The year was 1941. World War II was occurring. This was a big war. However, a new agency titled SHIELD was secretly working on making a weapon so powerful and unexpected, that the Germans would have no clue as to what it could be.

Steve Rogers was reading a newspaper. The Germans were invading many of the countries and the United States wanted out. That was until Japan attacked them in Pearl Harbor. Steve wished to fight in the war. However, he was a skinny, short, weak man who had asthma. He was in a waiting room to find out if he would be accepted to fight in the war. It was his fifth try.

"Rogers! Is Rogers here?" he heard a man ask.

Steve got up and walked towards the man who was calling his name. He had full confidence he could make it in. He lied on his document, but he had full confidence. Steve looked up at the tall man and said "That's me."

"Son, I'm afraid you aren't going to fight. Not from our approval."

"Oh come on, you can use anybody out there too.."

"Son, you are half of a body and have no strength."

"It shouldn't be about strength. My theory is that strategy is the key. Strategy beats strength 98% of the time for me."

The officer closed his eyes and sighed. He looked at Steve and put a denied stamp on his resume.

"Son, I'm not one to tattle, so that's why I'm telling you that you need to leave before you get in trouble for lying on a document."

Steve cursed a little bit then he walked out of the office. He got in his car and drove off to Brooklyn. He parked into the parking lot of the nearest bar. When he walked in there was music playing, but the dance floor was empty. He sat down at the bar and ordered himself a drink.

"Drink until you die, eh Steve?" a voice said.

"Bucky Barnes. Fancy seeing you here." Steve said. He turned around to see a tall, muscular man in a soldier costume.

"So. What time we ship out tomorrow?" Bucky said before sitting down next to Steve.

"You ship out at 1:00 PM."

"Ah man you didn't get in?"

Steve shook his head solemnly as he finished his drink. He ordered another one and gave the bartender a dollar. Bucky ordered a soda pop.

"Buck, I REALLY wanted to fight in the war. Nobody understands that strategy beats strength."

Bucky looked down at his soda and shook his head.

"Steve, you've been hunting this dream for years and you still have not caught it. This has got to be a sign that you just give up. Take a new career, make a new dream. Use your strategy idea to write a book. Maybe a hero story. Name him the Captain of America." Bucky said to Steve with a little chuckle.

Steve looked down at his drink and replied with "I want to be the Captain of America."

"OH MY GOODNESS, WOULD YOU TWO SHUT UP ALREADY!" a loud angry voice said from across the bar.

Steve looked at the man and said "Excuse me? Why don't you show a little respect? I mean there's a soldier shipping out tomorrow in your presence."

Bucky grabbed Steve's arm and said "Steve, let it go", but Steve ripped it out of his hands. The big man and his goons got up and walked towards them.

"I think you owe me a little apology son." the man said to Steve in his face.

Steve shook his head and grabbed his drink and threw it in the big man's face. Bucky sighed and whispered the words "Not again".

The big man grabbed Steve and told his goons to open the door. Steve yelled to hold on for a minute.

"Bucky I will chase the same dream for as long as I live. Good luck out there." Steve said with his hand down as he walked outside.

Bucky finished his soda pop in a gulp and looked at the bartender. He threw a few dollars on the table.

"Are you going to help the poor guy?" the bartender asked.

"Yeah. I am." Bucky answered. "Don't call the cops?"

"Son, I don't even know your name, plus I always take a soldier, and a man who stands up for a soldier's side." the bartender replied.

"Thank you", Bucky said and he tipped the bartender an extra dollar. He walked out the door as the bartender nodded his head and continued working.