A Super Soldier for the Modern World
Chapter 15
The news of Steve Rogers and Amanda Carter's engagement became headline news almost immediately. Every news and entertainment channel was either covering the story or running it on the ticker across the screen.
"Oh my god, I am never leaving this apartment again," Amanda told Steve.
"How did these people even find out?" Steve asked.
"Tony," they both answered together.
"Tony had to tell them," Amanda said.
"Why would he do that though?" he asked. "What purpose would that serve?"
"Why does he do anything he does?"
"I have a meeting with him later today," Steve told her. "I will ask him if he's the one who's done it."
"Why do you have a meeting with Tony?" Amanda asked as she cleared the breakfast dishes.
Steve followed her with the last of the dishes into the kitchen.
"He told me that he had something he needed to discuss with me. He wasn't specific. I think Colonel Rhodes is supposed to be there as well," Steve told her.
It had been a week since Amanda and Steve got home. They'd been settling back into a routine of sorts, except for the news people that were waiting to talk to them each time they stepped out into the daylight.
"Oh," Amanda said.
"The wedding will likely be more of media frenzy than the banner attempted wedding of Doctor Reed Richards and Susan Storm, or they might be better known as Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman…"
The both of them walked out to the TV and watched as the news replayed footage from the wedding of two of the Fantastic Four was interrupted.
"Did that really happen?" Steve asked.
"I was there. Yes, it was bad," she replied. "Oh, look. There I am."
Steve shook his head and changed the channel.
"…I'm really happy for them," a man said into the screen. He had one arm around the shoulders of a beautiful blond woman. "A little bit surprised, but very happy for them."
"Ugh!" Amanda sighed loudly.
"That's…"
"Yes, that's my ex-boyfriend," Amanda said. "Johnny Storm. The Human Torch. And I'm not even the slightest bit surprised he's using this for himself."
"He seems like kind of a jerk," Steve told her.
"He seems like kind of a jerk," Steve told her.
"He's a huge jerk," Amanda said. "So, I was thinking…how does eloping sound?"
…
A couple of hours later, Steve Rogers was being greeted by Tony Stark and Colonel James Rhodes in Tony's office.
The three of them had a seat and got right down to business.
"I'm going to let Rhodey do the talking if that's all right with him," Tony said.
"That's unusual for you, Stark," Steve said out loud.
"The Captain has an attitude today, Rhodey. Look at that," Stark replied with a slight smirk. "I think I like it."
"Okay, anyway. I don't want to take much of your time, but I need to talk to you. The US Senate is pushing for a pair of bills to be passed. They were written in the time since the attacks on the city… They are the Superhuman Registrations Act and the Mutant Registration Act. This pair of bills would require that humans and mutants, report their abilities. They would register themselves with the government…"
"So everyone, like myself, like Stark, like that Spider-kid, and all those folks up at Xavier's school, we would all be required to not only tell the government that we're out there, but they'll give away their real names, too?" Steve asked.
"Well, essentially, yes," Rhodes said. "What we're trying to accomplish is…"
"I don't care what you're trying to accomplish," Steve said, sitting back in his chair with his arms across his chest. "It's one thing for people like myself, or Stark, that have voluntarily given up our identities for the greater good. There are people out there that want to keep their name and face out of the spotlight," Steve said. "Why would the government try to take that away from them?"
"It's not so much that the government wants to take away their privacy; they want to know who we can call into action when another attack happens," Rhodey said. "And it will happen."
"And Stark, I assume you support this?" Steve asked.
"Yes, yes I do. We don't know what could happen next time. We're going to need all the power we have when the time comes, Cap," Tony explained. "And with you and myself in support…"
"I don't support it," Steve said, standing up. "I think its garbage."
Both Rhodey and Stark were totally shocked. Steve Rogers was not kidding; he was definitely not in support of the bills.
"Could I give you the information and have you reconsider?" Rhodes asked. "We think that with you on board we could really get the message out," Rhodes explained.
"Just because Captain America was propaganda figure in the 1940s, does not mean that you can use me for what you want now," Steve explained. He was pacing the room.
"With all due respect, gentlemen, making others register are against their rights," Cap said. "And the government needs to know that."
"Captain Rogers, I do hope you'll reconsider after reading this information. It is in the nation's best interest that we do this," Rhodes told him as he stood.
"I will read this," he said as he took the document packet from Colonel Rhodes. "But do not expect me to change my mind. And also, Stark, if I find out that you're the reason that my girlfriend can't leave the house without being hounded by reporters, you're going to wish that Fury never thawed me out of that ice block."
Steve politely saluted Colonel Rhodes and exited the office, taking the documents with him.
"Well, that definitely did not go the way I planned," Tony said.
"Did you really leak that to the press?" Rhodey asked.
Tony said nothing. He didn't want to get into that right now.
"Tony! We've got nothing here! And now not only does America's first superhero disagree with the plans, we don't stand a chance to convince him otherwise."
…
Steve stormed out of the elevator of the SHIELD building and silently exited the lobby. He would do as he said; he would read the information that Colonel Rhodes had provided him, but he knew he wouldn't change his mind.
He wasn't watching where he was going as he was leaving however and ran full-force into Doctor Faustus. It was a good thing that he had quick reflexes; he caught the man and brought him back to his feet.
"I'm so sorry, Doctor," Steve apologized.
"It's quite all right, Stephen," he said. "I was told you were back. Quite an amazing story. Oh, and I believe congratulations are in order?" Faustus said.
"Ah, thank you," Steve replied. "She agreed to marry me," he smiled. "And it's good to be home."
"That's wonderful," Doctor Faustus smiled. " I do hope you'll make some time to come see me in the next couple of days?"
"Well, Amanda and I are pretty busy the next few days, so I'll have to get back to you on that…" Steve told him. He didn't want to start another battle between him and his fiancée. Besides, he wasn't sure he even needed to go anymore.
"Of course, of course…" Doctor Faustus said.
Steve spotted Stark walking Colonel Rhodes out.
"I have to be going. I'm sorry, Doctor," Steve said.
The Doctor nodded to Steve and he finally exited the building.
Doctor Faustus smiled at Rhodes and Stark as he walked toward the elevator. Once he was safely back in his office, he closed and locked the soundproof door.
He booted up his computer and watched the screen while he waited.
"Herr Schmidt," he said into the speaker once the face was now looking at him.
"Doctor Faustus," Johann Schmidt, aka, the Red Skull, filled the screen. "What news do you have for me?"
"Rogers is distracted. His engagement to Carter was just announced. And he has also just learned of the bills the American government is trying to pass. Now is the perfect time to begin the next phase of our plan," Faustus explained.
"Bring Carter under your control. Get into her head," the Red Skull instructed. "I want her to believe she guilty of what happens next."
"Thank you, Herr Schmidt," Faustus said. "Hail Hydra!"
The transmission ended and a slow, devious smile spread across his face. He had to set the next phase of the plan to action. And he knew the exact way to do it.
…
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