-1All characters appearing in Captain America and other Marvel titles are copyrighted to Marvel Entertainment and Stan Lee. All real persons mentioned in this story belong to themselves. No infringement of these copyrights or offense to the people mentioned is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder or persons. All original characters are the property of TVfan.
Note: I'm using the events of the "Winter Soldier" story line as the main canon to this story, but I'm also going to say that this story is in the same "Universe" as my "A New Life" story in the Spider-Man section, since Captain America and Spider-Man are both Marvel Characters. This story takes place six months after my "A New Life" story and obviously some time after "Winter Soldier" in the comics.
Second Note: This is my version on Marvel's current "Civil War" storyline and will differ greatly in many ways from what has been published. Mostly because I don't like the idea of heroes fighting heroes and the fact that is the main point of Marvel's current storyline, and the fact that they killed Steve Rogers at the end of it.
Civil War
By TVfan
Chapter 8: Struggles with Evil
Washington National Airport, Washington DC, USA
Director Hill stood alone along the main landing platform as a large blood red airplane, that resembled a Boeing 747 pulled into dock. Judging by the black skull on the raised tail and the black swastika inside a white circle on the wings, she understood who's plane it was. Director Hill then turned to a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. security agents, including Sharon Carter, and began to give her opening orders.
"Remember that for the moment he is an American ally," Director Hill spoke, "We are to escort him to the White House and to insure that he is not harmed. You are to use non-lethal force at all costs."
None of the agents answered as the main doors opened, and the Red Skull in a militaristic dress uniform walked out into the area.
"What, no band? And the President is not here to meet me?" the Red Skull asked, "I assumed such polices were part of international affairs."
"Generally speaking yes," Director Hill answered, "but the President is busy with more pressing internal affairs at the moment. My orders are to instruct you and any in your party to the White House."
"There is only me," the Red Skull answered, "My Deputy Fuhrer is seeing to affairs within my Reich at the moment and my own Justice Minister are working to insure when your military is ready to transfer the Guantanamo prisoners, we are ready to receive them."
"Very well," Director Hill answered, "If you'll come with me."
Director Hill then turned around and began to walk towards the main exits, and the Red Skull followed her. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents then followed along in two lines on either side of the Red Skull. Sharon eyed the man carefully, questioning herself as to why she hadn't done more to get Cap to stop his fight and wondering if whether or not she was even doing the right thing.
Fury's Bunker, New York
"He's in the country?" Cap asked sounding enraged.
"His plane should have landed by now," Fury answered, "From what I was able to get out of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s databases he's here on some sort of 'national security' business."
"The Red Skull would never do anything to make America secure," Cap growled, pounding a fist on the table.
"You're looking at the big picture," Fury answered, "You know that the Red Skull is a tactical and strategic genius, along the lines of Napoleon or Caesar. Most of the guys in power, or wish to be in power in this country are more small picture and short term people, and therefore don't realize that all of this is part of a much larger plan."
"We've got to do something," Cap spoke, "Something to get Bush and Chaney away from the Red Skull and his influence."
"Give me a clear line of sight and a good rifle and the Red Skull won't be a threat to anyone anymore," Buck volunteered.
"He ain't gonna let himself get shot again," Fury answered, "Besides, this is going to be in Washington DC on the White House lawn. There's going to be enough security around to make things difficult, and even if you did get the shot off, one would think that it is an assassination attempt on multiple leaders, not just the Red Skull."
"We still have to do something," Cap insisted.
"Getting the evidence that links the man in the trenchcoat to the Red Skull will be more then enough to separate him from our government," Fury answered, "If we do anything right now, it would have to be limited to observation. Nothing more. If you do more, you could jeopardize the rest of your current situation."
"I'll keep an eye on him," Cap spoke, "He's my enemy. It's best that I kept watch on him."
"Okay," Fury nodded, "That leaves us with the second part of our mission. Identifying the man in the trenchcoat."
"You said he got on a plane to the Red Skull Reich," Buck answered, "Shouldn't that prove who he was working for?"
"That's only a hunch," Fury answered, "Which is partially the reason why I ain't the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore. I've had a lot of hunches over the years, and they've usually been right and I was able to get the evidence I needed as I went. However, when Lukin started his little power bid with you still brainwashed as 'Winter Soldier', while I know my hunch was right, he kept the evidence of it too far away for me to see, and when I acted on my hunch, I had a lot of bad timing."
"Bad timing?" Buck asked.
"He was meeting with a bunch of top level guys from the government and from the UN," Fury answered, "Bush was anxious to protect an American 'ally' and the UN was angry over the lack of evidence that I had."
"So now we're going to get the evidence that will bring the Skull down," Cap said firmly.
"At least get him out of America," Fury answered, "Which may be the best that we can do. And this will be a job for you, kid, as no one knows for certain you're down here. As far as S.H.I.E.L.D. knows, you're an off duty agent at the moment, which means you can get something that I need."
"What do you need?" Buck asked.
"An android," Fury answered, "S.H.I.E.L.D. has some strange ideas that they want it to appear like I'm still workin' for 'em and things like that, so they got robotic androids of me running around or in storage facilities."
"What's the android for?" Cap asked curiously, "Don't tell me spying. The Skull would recognize your face and destroy the android."
"Actually, that is precisely what it's for," Fury answered, "I can work on he face here, but I don't have the parts here to construct an android from scratch."
"Steal one S.H.I.E.L.D. android from storage," Buck answered, "No problem."
"And you, Cap, are going to need a disguise if you're to keep an eye on our red skinned, skin-headed friend," Fury spoke.
Avengers Tower
"That might actually work," Tony mused aloud inside his main office as Jennifer Walters stood before him.
"Getting it repealed through the Supreme Court?" Jennifer asked.
Tony nodded, "As I've said before, while I support some form of registration, there are a lot of things in the present act that could be viewed as unconstitutional. And the fact that the Red Skull benefit's the most from it is not helping matters."
"It must be killing him with the Red Skull coming to Washington and joining the President in an announcement on the 'War on Terror'," Jen sighed, "The two of them spent all of World War Two fighting each other, and they picked up where they left off when they came out of their respective 'hibernations'."
"What hurts him more is that the Skull has won every round rather easily so far," Tony answered, "I don't entirely think that Cap hates the conflicts that he's had with the Red Skull, as I believe he views it as part of the continual struggle between freedom and tyranny, which many say must happen. What hurts him is not so much the fact that there is a struggle, but the fact that tyranny and evil are winning."
Jen slowly nodded, "So have we been hired to protect the Red Skull on his little visit?"
"No," Tony shook his head, "I've voted Republican for years, but I'm not going to go to Washington to listen to a Nazi address America. I told Director Hill that we would continue to try and persuade those against registration to change their minds."
"And how much longer do you think the agreement you and Cap worked out can last before S.H.I.E.L.D. catches on that we're not doing our 'job'?" Jen asked, "I've had a few agents ask me, when I'm She-Hulk, about the legality of a prison that isn't on this plane for non-registered superheroes."
"What did you say?" Tony asked.
"That the legality would be in the length of the sentence and the quality of the prison," Jen answered, "and I explicitly told them that the sentence or prison conditions can not be cruel and or unusual."
"Things are slowly getting out of control," Tony sighed.
"I know," Jen told him, "I'm sorry I gotta go, but I have to be in court in half an hour, and I can't be late."
"Thank you for the news," Tony sighed and fumbled with one of his pens.
Washington DC
"Welcome to Washington," Chaney spoke with a smile, once the Red Skull had entered the main entrance room to the White House, "Good to see that there were no problems."
"How could anything go wrong," the Red Skull smiled back and gave a knowing glance at Sharon Carter, "With such attractive security guards."
"They're S.H.I.E.L.D. agents," Chaney answered, "America's frontline defense against terrorism."
"Given most historical references to the Nazism, most of which are untrue," the Red Skull responded, "I doubt that many of the terrorists that your country is fighting would want me dead."
"It is not Islamic Terrorists we are concerned about," Chaney answered, "I'm sure you're aware of our recent 'crisis' surrounding the Registration Act?"
The
Red Skull nodded, "Strengthening your nation so that no one will
ever or could ever challenge you? I find it hard to believe that
there are those who would really oppose it."
"One can never
understand traitors," Chaney answered, "They are here to make
sure that Steven Rogers or any of his traitorous allies strike."
"I appreciate your support and I accept your offer of bodyguards," the Red Skull answered, "But I assure you, if Captain America does anything to directly attack me for helping your country, I can handle him."
"It is not appropriate for heads of state to deal with criminals," Chaney spoke in a lecturing voice.
"That is because most heads of state are usually too old to be effective in such activities today," the Red Skull answered, "In old times, the young were the leaders and they had to prove their leadership. Richard the First was a young man when he fought in the Third Crusade."
"Barbarossa was an old man in the same crusade," Chaney countered.
"You do have a point there," the Red Skull answered, "Barbarossa was an old man who would fight, but he commanded his troops from the saddle. He was willing to fight, and for that he is a hero for the German people. Perhaps Herr Bush could be an American hero if he were to command his armies directly in the battlefront."
"We prefer to let our generals plan our strategies," Chaney answered.
"That is a pity then," the Red Skull sighed, "No heroic portrait of Bush to be made, leading his troops to victory?"
"Unless they make portraits of heroes based on a very broad definition of both leadership and the Presidency, I'm afraid not," Chaney answered, "We'll save the heroic portraits for the youth. Perhaps it would be tolerable to let you deal with any personal combat situations, you do not appear to be an old man."
"Not physically," the Red Skull answered, "In that sense, both Steven Rogers and I are a lot alike."
"I suppose," Chaney responded, "Thankfully though, you see things from a more conservative point of view?"
"When has the Right ever been wrong?" the Red Skull asked back with a smile.
"Yes," Chaney smiled back, "I'll take you in to the Oval Office to meet with the President, and a car will be by to take you to your hotel."
The two men then disappeared behind a series of doors, leaving the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents behind. Once the door was shut Sharon Carter finally spoke.
"I can't believe our country is having friendly relations with that madman," Sharon spoke with a lot of anger in her voice.
"He has volunteered to help America win the war," Director Hill said pointedly, "And we wouldn't have to use him if your boyfriend decided to be loyal and serve his country."
"Loyal and serve?" Sharon gasped, "The man fought for his country in the largest war this country ever fought in. How can you say he didn't serve?"
"That was then," Hill answered back, "Now, he is a traitor."
"For opposing an act that is potentially unjust?" Sharon argued.
"No law passed by AMERICAN bodies can be unjust," Hill growled, "Nothing in America was or is considered supportive of injustice."
"What of slavery?" Sharon countered, "I'm not saying registration is wrong, but I am saying that the Red Skull is evil and not to be trusted. I refuse to serve as a bodyguard to Hitler's bellboy."
"Then you will actively work to insure that Steven Rogers is captured?" Hill questioned.
"I told you I do not know where he is," Sharon responded.
"And you've done a horrible job of looking," Hill answered, "You've been demoted Agent 13, and unless you're going to take your job seriously and hunt down Steven Rogers and shoot him, like the traitorous dog that he is, you will be the bodyguard for 'Hitler's bellboy' as you call him."
Director Hill then turned to the other agents standing there.
"Does anyone else wish to question their commander?" Hill asked in a commanding voice.
None of the agents said anything.
"Good," Director Hill answered, "Now, you are to wait here until the car that will take the Skull to his hotel arrives, and you will follow in the transports provided. I have business to attend to for now, we will meet again when the Skull and the President make their announcement tomorrow."
Director Hill then walked out the door and returned to the car that they had come in while Sharon could only look down. To her, the Red Skull was an evil that could not be talked with, and one that she knew Steve would readily fight, and he probably was trying to find some way to fight him. The fact that people were calling Captain America a traitor so readily and accepting it so easily hurt her, especially when the world's most evil living man was pulling the strings.
"Maybe Steve was right about all of this," Sharon sighed as she continued to look down.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Hanger, Newark, NJ
Buck gave a slight whistle when he saw the damaged helicarrier sitting in its hanger. He found it hard to call it a hanger, as the shit was floating in water, but that is what it was called.
"Agent Winter, what are you doing here?" one agent on guard duty asked, "I thought you had taken a leave of absence."
"I was supposed to be," Buck replied, "But I got an urgent call from Director Hill wanting me to get a LMD for some secret mission."
"A Fury android?" the agent asked, "They've largely been used for basic monitoring tasks with all the sensor screens on the helicarrier which would require two dozen people to perform the same task."
"That is what I was told she wanted," Buck answered, "I was also told to keep this quiet."
"Of course, sir," the agent answered, "All the units are presently in storage. Will you need any help in taking it out?"
"Nah," Buck shook his head, "I've never seen one work before. I might just walk it back to where I was told to take it."
"It looks and sounds just like Nick Fury," the agent replies, "Talks like him too, but then, Director Hill was in charge when you joined S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I've met Nick Fury before," Buck answered, "Although that was back in the war."
"Oh," the agent shrugged, "Why didn't you stick with Fury then after the war?"
"I was unavailable," Buck answered, "I'll let you get back to your work and I'll carry out my orders."
And with that, Buck walked in and went up a gangplank into the helicarrier, which was otherwise still under repairs.
Fury's Bunker, Half an Hour Later
Buck returned the bunker with the Fury LMD walking beside him. He found the real Fury waiting for him. The android, once it spotted Fury, however, did something that Buck didn't expect.
"Subject identified as Nicholas Fury," the LMD spoke, "Subject wanted for crimes consistent with treason against the UN. Subject is to be arrested on by…"
Buck then watched in continued surprise as Fury moved over and pressed a hidden pressure sensor on the LMD's head that deactivated the android before it could activate its GPS tracer. The android then fell to Fury's and Buck's feet.
"What was that all about?" Buck asked as he looked at the offline robot.
"When they fired me, they decided my activities in the most recent 'secret war' wasn't good enough for a UN agency and decided to file criminal charges to save face," Fury answered, "These LMDs were intended to be a sort of bait to get me to come out and 'defend' myself. Their monitoring programs are secondary assignments while they're waiting for me to come out."
"How can you commit a crime against an international organization while working for that organization?" Buck asked.
"Simple, the UN fired me from S.H.I.E.L.D. and the US filed the legal charges," Fury answered, "And since most of the other countries in the UN have similar laws, they had no objections."
Buck shook his head, "That might be a different problem for Cap to face."
"Huh?" Fury asked as he removed the face portion of the LMD.
"The fact that the United States is using a UN organization as an American agency," Buck answered, "Shouldn't S.H.I.E.L.D. be above being commanded by any individual government?"
"That's merely the result of who's in charge," Fury answered, "Maria Hill thinks of herself as an American first and only as an American. Not that that is bad, mind you, but it has created a monster. To be honest the UN isn't much more then a paper tiger. S.H.I.E.L.D. is its only real 'teeth', but it is specifically for the purposes of counterterrorism, and its Director is given a great deal of authority to run it. There were a lot of things that I did that the UN didn't like, and they haven't been able to prevent rogue nations from causing trouble, so I doubt that these guys are going to try and stop the American government from essentially stealing an international organization."
"So all we need to do is wait for the UN to get tired of Director Hill?" Buck asked.
"That and for some national government to accuse her of a serious crime," Fury answered, "and since she hardly ever goes outside the US, it would have to be the US that makes the accusation."
"Hm," Buck commented as he and Fury then moved the LMD onto a nearby table, "So what do we do now?"
"Now comes the great fun of reprogramming this thing's robotic brain so it will do what we want it to do and creating a new face and artificial skin to make sure that no one recognizes it," Fury answered, "Then all we have to do is send him on his spy mission."
"So he'll bring us back paper evidence?" Buck asked.
Fury shook his head, "Better. Its 'eyes' are cameras and his 'ears' can record sounds. The LMD will do everything it can to be in the most opportune place to spot our guy and be close enough to hear what he and anyone near him say."
"Amazing," Buck commented, "I'm surprised they even employ people at the CIA with these things around now. Spies that can record all sorts of information, leaves no fingerprints but can duplicate them if necessary, and can double as assassins and covert agents should the situation require it."
"Too bad the UN passed a resolution outlawing exactly what we're going to be doing with this LMD," Fury answered with a chuckle.
Washington DC
The Red Skull smiled to himself as he sat in the lounge of his multi-room suite of the hotel he was staying at. So far nearly everything was going as he had planned. America's superheroes had not gone into an all out war against each other as he had hoped, but it was clear that Captain America and others were at least in opposition to the government and were underground. That alone was something that made the Skull smile. His greatest enemy on the run from his own government.
Everything else, however, was largely going well. Many, if not most, of the Americans in their capital were very angry that he was there and on a 'diplomatic' mission and hated it even more that he had been invited to Washington. One or two people who had been protesting his visit outside the White House gates was even brave enough to throw a tomato at his car as he left, which he found most amusing. He then pulled out a small communicator that would link him with his palace back in his 'own' country.
"Yes, father," came Sin's response as her face appeared on the screen.
"I wish to know the status of all affairs within the Reich?" the Skull asked.
"Things are calm, father," Sin answered, "Brock is having a set of barracks being built outside the wall for the palace and our 'Parliament' building for his SS troops at the moment, but there is no other major activity going on."
"As I ordered him to," the Red Skull answered, "What is the overall response to my visit to America?"
"Internationally or just within the United States?" Sin asked.
"I would prefer both, but we can start with the international scene," the Skull answered.
Sin's image nodded.
"France and Germany seem to be a hair breath away from cutting off relations entirely with the United States, while Tony Blair's government in England looks like it will collapse because of Britain's support for Bush's policies," Sin reported, "Most of the rest is a repetition of things you expected."
"Very good," the Skull smiled, "Even the world is falling under the pressure put on the Americans."
"Within the United States is a very different story," Sin continued, "The American Democratic Party is consistently against you, although according to their news sites, it is because they are on the left wing while you are on the right, and there are many Republicans who have bought your lie completely and are quite supportive of your Reich."
"I expected as much," the Red Skull smiled, "Tell anyone that you agree with them whole heartedly on every issue, but only make examples of one or two issues, and he will believe you, regardless of whether that person is on the Left or Right."
"Yes, well," Sin continued, "there are, however, several more moderate Republicans and many Independents that are actually breaking away from the hard liners. They rightfully believe you to be evil and are also beginning to distance themselves from the President and his administration."
"Unfortunately for the moderates," the Red Skull dismissed that part of the report, "the hard liners are in power. There is nothing they can do until their next Presidential election. That is plenty of time for me complete my victory."
"Of course, father," Sin nodded, "That is all of the information that I could gather on the reaction to your visit to the American capital."
"Have you seen anything on Captain America?" the Red Skull asked, "I do find the fact that the only person who has been able to stop me is being branded a traitor for trying to stop me very entertaining."
"Other then the far right on Fox News calling him a traitor and demanding that he be shot on site when he is found," Sin sighed, "There is little new on that front. They say his tape is an indication of his 'terrorist sympathies' because of one line, which I'm sure refers to you, actually."
"The 'I have something else to accomplish first', or something along those lines line," the Red Skull shrugged, "I know that was a reference to me. The Captain knows that his government has made the mistake of believing that I wish to help them, and he knows that at present they will lash out at him with everything they've got to protect their interests. Saying I am the enemy would let them know where he is most likely to show up. The way he said it leaves everything he is doing as mysterious and more difficult for them to track him down."
Sin smiled, "Maybe you'll see him while you're there. Since he knows you are the real cause behind the present crisis that he is dealing with, I'd bet he'd come after you."
"I'm counting on it," the Skull smiled, "Have a good night."
The Next Day
"I don't like this," Sam Wilson, known as the Falcon when in costume whispered as he and Cap stood amongst a crowd of people on the White House lawn waiting for the Red Skull and President Bush to make their special announcement concerning the War on Terror, "We'll get caught here and arrested for going against the Registration Act, and they might shoot you for treason."
"We have to know what the Skull is up to," Steve answered back, "The Registration Act, the explosion at Stamford, the 'Civil War' between heroes and the real civil war between us and our own government all comes from the Red Skull's actions. We need to know what he is doing so we can try to counteract his actions."
"We can watch the news to see what he says here," Sam answered, "We don't need to be here."
"No," Steve shook his head, "The Skull's mere presence is creating other problems. He's trying to polarize our society to the point that there will a real shooting war between those on the Left and Right. The Registration Act and the current status of the 'Civil War' is only the beginning. The longer Bush treats the Skull as an ally the more against him the Democrats will become and the less likely that either of them will accept a compromise, which is the heart of democratic action."
"So you think a fight is going to break out here because the Red Skull is here?" Sam asked.
"It is distinct possibility," Steve answered.
Sam was about to say more when a group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents came out the front doors of the White House and took up flanking positions along a central podium. Among them was a very angry looking Sharon Carter.
"What are they doing here?" Sam asked, "And why is Sharon with them?"
"Hill probably had them come here to be protection against any 'terrorist activities' that I might perform against the Red Skull. Sharon is here because she is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best agent in my opinion and Hill probably wants her to make sure that everything goes well."
"Well, she sure don't look too happy about her assignment," Sam commented.
"Being ordered to be a bodyguard to the Red Skull, when she has helped me fight him in recent years just as much as you have," Steve sighed back, "I wouldn't be happy either if I were her."
Then, President Bush and Vice President Chaney appeared in the doorway and walked to the podium itself, the Red Skull, again dressed in a military dress uniform followed.
"And now we see what happens," Steve said silently.
"Greetings my fellow Americans," Bush spoke carefully into the microphone at the podium, "Today is a day that will seriously change the course of the War on Terror, and one that will speed us on our way to the victory that we will surely win."
Bush paused for a moment before continuing.
"While our forces continue to triumph in all of the theaters of the present war, we are being hurt by an overcrowding of our prisons," Bush continued, "Making it hard for us to get the information that is most desperately needed. Al Qaeda's plans for the future."
Bush then turned and motioned to the Red Skull.
"Johann Schmidt, more commonly known as the Red Skull, has become America's newest partner against Al Qaeda and the evils that it stands for," Bush spoke, "His Reich has volunteered to aid the United States in the incarceration of terrorists and their supporters."
Bush then stepped aside to allow the Red Skull to step forward and speak. The Red Skull slowly stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Yes, as your President says I have volunteered to aid your country in its struggle for safety from the chaotic forces of your enemies," the Red Skull began, "Camp Sieg will allow for the incarceration of many of your enemies and will insure that they are never a threat to you or anyone else for a very long time. That is all I really have prepared at the moment, and I will close that I wish you all the very best of fortune in securing victory."
It was then that the relative calm of the announcement was broken.
"Go back home, you Nazi!" someone from crowd yelled and lobbed a rotten tomato in the Red Skull's direction.
The throw had too much of an ark to it, and it landed harmlessly at the Red Skull's feet, but it was a clear indication that the audience was not enthusiastically supporting him. There were a few more shoots of protest against the Red Skull along with more thrown vegetables. The Red Skull had no fear of the thrown projectiles, but stepped back as he didn't wish to get his 'uniform' dirty.
"Quell this riot!" the Red Skull ordered to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents surrounding the speaking podium that ad been set up, "Quell it now!"
"They're just rotten tomatoes," Sharon answered, "The police that are around can deal with them. We are here should any terrorist act occur, not attack people who simply do not like you."
"I
gave you an order, woman!" the Red Skull screamed, "Quell this
riot, before it escalates into a full fledged fight!"
"And
I'm telling you this is not in our jurisdiction," Sharon
answered, trying to take charge of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents while
Director Hill was abscent, "If they attack you, we'll make sure
that that neither you nor the President and the Vice President are
harmed. But we are not going to attack the crowd because there are a
handful of people throwing vegetables."
"Preemption is the best defensive strategy, young lady," Chaney spoke quickly, "If they do decide to attack, it is best to take them out when they aren't ready."
"Those weren't my orders," Sharon answered.
"They are your orders now, now quell this riot!" the Red Skull ordered.
"We will wait until they outright attack," Sharon answered, noticing that the police had already removed two of the trouble makers and the rest were beginning to leave on their own.
"You will do as I say!" the Red Skull growled and swung one fist in a motion that knocked Sharon to the ground, "You were told to protect me, I'm sure. Standing by while my honor is insulted and a public riot is started is not following your orders."
Bush looked on in a rather shocked and almost frightened manner. While he agreed that the trouble makers needed to be dealt with, he would have only agreed to using the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents if there weren't enough police to deal with the situation otherwise. He certainly didn't think there was a reason to strike the female agent. He glanced at Chaney to see that the Vice President showed no emotion toward the situation. He was about to say something when a large disk-like shield came flying through the air and struck the Red Skull in the back of the head.
"Take your hands off of her!" came Cap's voice as vaulted out of the quickly disintegrating crowd and onto the platform.
Behind Cap came the African American hero known as the Falcon.
"Ah, Captain," the Red Skull smiled, "I didn't know you would be here. In fact I assumed you would be hiding to protect yourself."
"I do not hide," Cap answered, "And I will do everything that I can to insure that men like you do not commit acts of evil."
"Come now Captain," the Red Skull shook his head, "In our present situation, who is the law breaker here? I was invited. You are wanted for opposing the Registration Act, and according to some, terrorist charges."
"It's an unjust law," Cap answered.
"No law passed by the United States Congress is unjust," Chaney growled, "Only terrorist traitors like yourself would ever accuse the UNITED STATES of ever doing anything wrong."
"What about the law that was passed that counted each and every slave in America as three fifths of a person," Cap argued back, "Or the Fugitive Slave laws? Or legalized segregation? Were those all just because they existed in America?"
"You're forgetting that it is the Left that is responsible for all of those things, Rogers," Chaney answered, "Noble men like Lincoln and Reagan have tried hard to fight those things. It is traitors like you who create all of America's problems."
Chaney then physically moved Bush behind the group of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on his side of the podium.
"And the Skull is also right that both of you are wanted for being in violation of the Superhuman Registration Act, and these agents are duty bound to arrest you," Chaney spoke, "regardless of their previous orders."
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents then closed in on Cap and the Falcon, with a smiling Red Skull before them.
"I told you this was a bad idea," Falcon said.
"Back off," Cap spoke to the approaching agents, "This is not part of the Registration Act. This is about stopping one of the most evil men on Earth."
"I thought evil men were the ones who broke the law?" the Red Skull taunted.
Two agents then lunged at Cap. In a completely defensive move, Cap ducked under one and tripped the other who fell face first into the podium and knocked himself out. Two more lunged at Falcon, although, they were met by a sweeping kick that knocked one back and knocked the other out. This left three more agents, not including Sharon, who was still nursing a sore jaw and too surprised by Cap's appearance to really do anything at the moment.
"This isn't your fight," Cap spoke to the remaining agents, "Just back off, and no one will be hurt."
The three remaining agents pulled out small hand guns and began firing at Cap, and almost ignoring the fact that there were still a few people that hadn't left when people started throwing tomatoes at the Red Skull and the police chased them off. Cap ducked under the shots and threw his shield in a manner in which it cut the agent's guns in half without hitting the agents or the President and Vice President. It bounced off a nearby sidewalk back to Cap.
"I suppose if you want something done right, you'll have to do it yourself," the Red Skull sighed and turned to Chaney and Bush, "I'll apprehend these two for you as a token of my commitment to victory."
"That won't be necessary," Chaney spoke, "I thought the traitor would try something like this, so I pulled some strings with Director Hill and the Justice Department to insure that there would be someone who would fight evil men like this traitor."
Chaney then pulled a small communicator out from inside his jacket and spoke into it.
"Director Hill begin Operation Justice," Chaney spoke in an authoritative voice.
With that a hovercraft lowered its cloaking shield and appeared above them. It bore the S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia on it. When the door opened, a group of people that Cap did not expect jumped out. Lead by the Green Goblin, Batroc the Leaper, Boomerang, Eel, Lady Deathstrike, Mister Hyde, Alistair Smythe, and Taskmaster leaped out. All of them were wearing some sort of electric collar with a glowing S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem on it.
"I don't like this," Falcon commented.
"Meet my 'Thunderbolts'," came Director Hill's voice as she appeared in the doorway of the hovercraft, "I'm sure you'll be inclined to surrender now. I'm sure they'll treat you humanly and insure that your execution is painless."
"These men are criminals and murders!" Cap growled, "You can't honestly expect them to do anything for justice."
"So long as they wear those collars, they will do whatever I command them to do," Director Hill smiled, "And I am standing for justice where as you stand for treason."
Cap only narrowed his eyes at the group of now superhuman opponents who now faced him and Falcon.
"I'll find a way to win," Cap vowed to himself.
"We are waiting for your surrender, Captain," the Red Skull spoke with a smile.
Cap was about to growl something back when he was suddenly incased in some sort of bluish glow. He looked to see that both Sharon and the Falcon were encased in a similar glow.
"What is going on?" Bush asked as he looked at all of this with surprise.
"Get him!" Director Hill screamed.
The Green Goblin was the first to attack, but Cap had already vanished by the time his glider got close enough to attack the star spangled avenger.
"What do you suppose could have done that?" Chaney asked as he stepped closer.
"I do not know," the Red Skull answered, "But it would appear for now that the Captain is no longer an concern."
"I hope so," Chaney sighed.
Elsewhere
Cap, the Falcon, and Sharon all landed rather roughly in a empty warehouse. Dusting himself off Cap looked around at the interior of the warehouse.
"Where are we?" Cap wondered allowed.
"Don't know," Falcon answered, "I'm glad though that we're out of there though. Most of those 'thunderbolts' that Hill assembled weren't all that tough, but the Green Goblin, Lady Deathstrike, and Mister Hyde? They are all tough opponents."
"They're falling more and more to the Skull's influence if they're using known supervillains to fight us," Cap answered in a semi-defeated voice.
"They won't need them after that," came Sharon's voice, "What were you doing there Steve?"
"We were there originally to just observe what the Red Skull was doing," Falcon answered, "Although everything went south when some guys decided to make the opinion known that they do no like the Red Skull and threw tomatoes at him."
"It did," Sharon sighed, "But the police had everything under control, Steve. There was no need for you to attack the Skull like that. It's only going to make you look worse."
"He physically struck you," Cap spoke, "I'm not going to stand by while he abuses you or anyone else when they can not strike back."
Sharon stared at him for a few moments before answering.
"I don't need you to defend me," Sharon answered after a few minutes, trying to sound tough.
"I know," Cap answered, "But that hasn't stopped me from trying."
Sharon was about to say something more when a voice cut her off.
"As much as this romantic moment must be for the two of you, there are more important things to be concerned with," the voice spoke.
They turned to see a man in a business suit approaching them, although his face was still in the shadows. As he came closer, they found it was Aleksander Lukin.
"You!" Cap exclaimed.
"Yes," Lukin answered, "I rescued you from certain defeat at the hands of the Red Skull and those who he as tricked into serving him."
"You're just as evil as he is," Cap growled, "I ought to take you to a place where you'll be incarcerated for life for what you did to Buck and to those people in Philadelphia."
"I was not involved in the actions that created the Winter Soldier, Captain," Lukin answered, "We both know of my 'involvement' in the Philadelphia bombing, but you know that you have no evidence and that Kronas is still an American ally."
"Then why did you help him now?" Sharon answered, "How did you help him?"
"The how is very easy," Lukin answered, and presented his Cosmic Cube to the group, "The why is merely because we both have a mutual enemy."
"Mutual enemy?" Falcon asked, "Why would you care about what the Skull does?"
"Because the Skull is a greater evil," Lukin answered, "As the Captain, himself, saw during the war that the Skull committed great atrocities against Russian citizens."
"So now that you and the Skull are separated, you're resuming your campaign against him?" Sharon asked.
"As much as I can," Lukin answered, "Although things are rather complicated as the Skull has allied himself with your country's government."
"And now you think I can help you," Cap commented.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Lukin answered, "President Putin is willing to commit Russian troops in an invasion so long as I use the Cube to provide them with weapons and equipment that will give them an edge over the Red Skull. I can think of no man who has more of an advantage over that villain then Captain America."
"That doesn't change the fact that I'm wanted by my own country as a result of what the Red Skull has done," Cap answered.
"Not if you accept employment within Kronas Industries," Lukin offered, "You would gain diplomatic immunity within the US and there is little that the present administration can or will do to stop you, as I can tell them that any actions they take against you could hurt Kronas stock, and considering that Kronas now owns several American offices and employs American citizens in some capacity, the last thing they want is to hurt someone's profit margin."
"That might stop Bush and Chaney, but that won't stop the Skull," Sharon told him, "If you're still fighting him, I highly doubt the Skull won't fight you, especially since you appeared by unleashing Winter Soldier on the Skull."
"He will ignore me at first," Lukin answered, "But his powers can not affect my cube and my cube can not affect his power. In that sense we are evenly matched. It is the idea that our initial strike takes the Red Skull down rather quickly."
"I appreciate the offer in this instance," Cap sighed, "But until the US stops backing the Red Skull, any attack on the Red Skull will be met by American troops. Stopping the Registration Act and the Skull's actions in America is my number one priority."
"You're saying that Bush will defend that man?" Lukin asked.
"Just as he would you," Sharon answered.
"This complicates things and I will need to speak the Putin about dealing with this problem now," Lukin answered, "I'll leave you to your own devices for the time being. You may leave my warehouse at anytime."
"We'd best get back to the bunker," Cap sighed to Falcon, "and try to explain to Fury how I made a mess of things."
"I'm coming with you," Sharon spoke.
Cap and Falcon stopped.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is surrendering its very purpose," Sharon sighed, "To stop organizations that want to commit acts of global terrorism. The Red Skull has always been among one of the few individual people that has been on its top ten most wanted list, and not only is the US government treating him like a friend, but S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't doing a damn thing to at least make sure he's not lying or has some trick up his sleeve. Fury wouldn't allow the Skull to come this far, and I'm tired of defending an evil man who has taken a possibly righteous idea in Registration and turned it into a weapon against its very creators."
"You'll willingly go against the government?" Cap asked.
"What they're doing isn't right," Sharon answered, "It's just not right."
The White House
"Today could have gone better," Bush sighed as he walked back toward his private office.
"Yes," Chaney nodded behind him, "The fact that we are unsure as to Steven Rogers's present whereabouts, or if he's even still alive is one thing. The bigger problem is that most of the people that Hill recruited are largely pushovers."
"I would hardly call the Green Goblin a pushover," Hill spoke from behind them, "Besides, if I had recruited among some of the criminals with more raw power, we could be facing a very difficult situation once Rogers's little insurrection is defeated."
"No, it's the fact that we're using those people at all," Bush answered, trying to sound firm, "I mean, if we're the good guys, why are we using known murderers and criminals to enforce the law?"
"Because the heroes that are following the Registration Act are taking too soft an act on going after Rogers," Hill answered, "I was told to do anything that could swiftly bring in Rogers and his allies. Iron Man's 'talk them into it' policy will take awhile and there are still many heroes who are unregistered, either in hiding or with Rogers and his resistance movement."
"I know it seems bad, but Rogers has done much threaten you and America, while the registered heroes aren't reacting strong enough to stop him," Chaney added, "He attacked us today and there was no hero trying to arrive and save us."
"He never attacked us," Bush answered, "He attacked the Red Skull. Nothing he did ever came close to even remotely harming us, and he addressed the Red Skull as evil. I can't see anything directly where he'd want to attack us."
"Given the Red Skull's power, I believe he had picked out the Red Skull first," Chaney answered, "He would have surely turned to us after and if he defeated he Skull in combat."
"Maybe," Bush commented, "but don't ya think he might have said something about us as well, then? Everything he said was in relation to the Red Skull. And that's another thing, you let him strike that woman because she wouldn't go after the guys throwing tomatoes."
"She was disobeying direct orders," Hill cut in, "She deserved what she got."
"But we shouldn't work with someone who so casually strikes someone because they're disobeying orders," Bush answered, "It doesn't sit right with me to just hit someone."
"I can agree," Chaney sighed, "The Skull needs to work on his temper, but the woman was disobeying orders, and the fact that Rogers had arranged for rabble rousers to throw tomatoes at him didn't help the matter. The whole thing is Rogers's fault."
"Hm?" Bush asked, "I didn't even see Cap until after the Skull struck the woman, and I'm also gonna say that the police did a good job of forcing the guys throwing tomatoes to leave. The agents weren't needed."
"Maybe so, but they were under direct orders to protect the Red Skull," Director Hill answered, "They were still duty bound to obey him while he was here."
"I still think things are going badly and that we might be making mistakes," Bush commented.
"Don't worry," Chaney assured him, "When Rogers is found, executed, and a new Captain America who serves the American definition of America, everything will be better."
To Be Continued…
"To respond to evil by committing another evil does not eliminate evil but allows it to go on forever."
-Vaclav Havel, Czech dramatist and statesman; President of Czechoslovakia 1989-1992 and of the Czech Republic 1993-2003, letter November 5 (1989)
