Chapter 53: Captain America

Steve didn't have a shield, but he did have his strength. The experiment that had given him these powers also had ensured they weren't tied to the shield. He was part of the cavalry, commanded by Thor. The warriors of Asgard had marched into Germany, the German army bending the knee as they had come. Without their Chancellor, it seemed the Germans had become weak, just as they had been after Hitler's death. Steve closed his eyes and took a breath. They were not fighting humans today, but the Djinn. A threat to the world that he had never thought to have seen. He took a deep breath, and then braced himself. Bucky was at his side. They stood and listened as Thor spoke.

The Emperor of Asgard, and God of Thunder looked resplendent in golden armour, a red cloak billowing behind him. His weapon in his hand. "We fight today, not for the glory of Asgard, but for the preservation of the natural order." The man pointed out into the distance where the army of Djinn were massing. "They, the enemy, the Djinn wish to change everything. They wish to take us to a period where the dark ages dwell. We cannot allow that to happen. We must act now, and we must fight." The Emperor paused, and then finished. "Today we fight, and some may die, but we shall all grace Valhalla!" He raised his weapon high and Steve found himself cheering along with the others.

"Not sure what I make of that." Bucky quipped. "Not the most inspiring speech."

Steve laughed. "It did its job though."

Thor was the one who began the attack, he bellowed an oath and then moved into action. He flew with the sky turning grey around him. The enemy fell like rain to the ground, the other Asgardians joined in then. Steve watched them fight and wondered to himself, if it were possible that they were actually Gods or rather God, but in different forms. That was something that he might be able to accept. Anything else would appear too different for him. Bucky whistled. "They sure know how to create an entrance."

Steve laughed then heard the whistle. "It's our time." He said a quick prayer and then he too was running off to fight the enemy. They were waiting for him. Their foot soldiers were humans, designed and altered deep within labs in Germany. Steve fought them, three at a time, killing the first three by hitting their hearts as hard as he could. More came and they were harder to kill. Some tried to hurt him but he always defeated them before they could hurt him. Gradually things began to change. The tide was turning in their direction. Steve could feel the weight of it all, but it was a weight he would bear gladly.

At his side, Bucky was giving as good as he got, and he was getting a fair bit of stick for it. Steve wanted to ask his friend if he were okay, but he knew to do so would to undermine his confidence. Steve took another hit to the face, and found himself on the ground, being picked up and hurled around like a toy. It appeared that the humans had been replaced, and that this was the actual Djinn. Steve lay there in the ground pretending to be dead, waiting for the Djinn to be removed. But the thing kept coming. He found himself picked up and thrown around like he was little more than a rag doll.

Pain came as the thing punched him again and again. There was no relief. There was no chance to develop retaliation, there was only pain. Until he ended up on the ground again. He staggered back to his feet and found Bucky there fighting the beast. He tried to help but his legs wouldn't move. Bucky could fight, but this was something else. The Djinn knew what moves he was going to make before made them. It was worrying. He took a step forward and sank to his knees, just as the thing took Bucky in its vice like grip.

Steve watched in horror as the monster began crushing Bucky. His friend screamed, and Steve wanted to close his eyes, so he did not have to see what was happening. But he could not. His eyes refused to close. They remained open. And so he watched as his friend's bones began popping out of his body, as blood gushed down and around. He watched as his friend screamed and thrashed and then went limp. He couldn't even roar in anger. Instead he simply watched and felt something wet come down his cheeks.