Chapter 10: The First Avenger
Italy 1943
Slowly coming to from being unconscious, Sergeant James Howlett looked around and saw that he was strapped down to an operating table in the middle of a laboratory. He struggled to free himself, but the restraints were too strong for him to break through. As he tried to break free, the door opened up, allowing a short man with glasses to walk inside.
"Gutentag, mein friend," he greeted in a sinister tone. "I am Dr. Zola. So, you are the miracle worker I vas told about."
"The hell are you blabbin about?" Howlett snarled.
"The man who had a steel beam drop down on him, stabbing him through the leg… and yet, able to walk away as though nothing happened. One has to wonder how."
Howlett just snarled in response. "Howlett, James. Sergeant 151974."
Zola just sighed in response.
"If you insist…"
…
Miles away in the skies above, a lone plane flew through the airspace over a secret HYDRA facility. Piloting the plane was Howard Stark, the governments top weapons contractor. In the back were British Special Forces Agent Peggy Carter, and Steve Rogers, better known as the USO hero, Captain America. The captain had a lot going through his mind as he stared out the window. It wasn't that long ago that he was just a scrawny little kid from Brooklyn. Then, by some chance of fate, he was picked for an experiment that made him the peak of physical perfection. Now, he was about to be dropped right into the heart of enemy territory with nothing but a stolen uniform, a prop shield, and barely a semblance of a plan.
"Steve," Peggy spoke, getting his attention. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just… thinking," he replied. "How far out are we?"
"Nearly there," she replied, pulling out a map. "From what our intelligence can gather, the HYDRA camp is in Kreuzberg, tucked between these two mountain ranges. It's a factory of some kind."
"We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep," Howard informed.
"Just get me as close as you can," Steve told him. "You know, you two are gonna be in a lot of trouble."
Peggy snorted, covering her mouth politely. "And you won't?"
"Where I'm goin', if anybody yells at me I can just shoot 'em.".
"They will undoubtedly shoot back."
"Well, let's hope it's good for something' then," Steve finished, pounding on his shield.
Peggy smiled a little in amusement.
"Agent Carter!" Howard called from the cockpit. "We're on approach. Mind giving the Captain the new equipment."
"Right," Peggy replied, pulling out a small device and handing it to Steve. "This is your transponder. Activate it when you're ready and the signal will lead us straight to you."
"Are you sure this thing works?" He asked, taking the device and hooking it on his belt.
"It's been tested more than you, pal." Howard snapped.
At that moment, their plane seemed to be taking heavy fire. HYDRA knew they were there. Not wanting them to get blown out of the sky, Steve grabbed a parachute and made his way to the door. Seeing what he was trying to do, Peggy grabbed his arm.
"Get back here!" She ordered. "We're taking you all the way in."
"There's no time!" Steve called back, pulling free and opening the door. "As soon as I'm free, you turn this thing around and get the hell outta here!"
"You can't give me orders!"
" The hell I can't! I'm a Captain!"
With that, he gave her one final look before jumping out of the plane.
…..
Inside the HYDRA facility, about a dozen soldiers were being herded into large cages that dotted throughout the facility. As one of the cages was being closed, the guard felt something tap on his shoulder. The guard turned around only to get punched in the face and then knocked back by a shield. The prisoners were surprised to see a single soldier in a spangly outfit standing over the fallen guard.
"Need a hand, fellas?" he asked.
"Who're you supposed to be?" a prisoner named Gabe Jones asked.
"I'm… Captain America." he answered before grabbing the guard's keys.
Another prisoner named James Falsworth narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"I... beg your pardon?" he simply said.
…
Within moments, Steve managed to free all the prisoners from their cells.
"Anyone else here?" He asked.
"There's an Isolation ward in the factory," Falsworth, one of the prisoners, explained. "But no one's come back from there."
"Then that's where I'm headed," Steve declared. "The tree line is northwest, 80 yards past the gate. Get out fast and give 'em hell. I'll meet you guys in the clearing with anybody else I find."
Gabe spoke up again, looking at his rescuer curiously.
"Wait! You know what you're doin'?" He asked.
"Yeah," Steve confirmed. "I've knocked out Adolf Hitler over two hundred times."
With that, Steve ran off deeper into the factory, leaving the freed prisoners a bit confused.
…
In the isolation ward, Howlett was growling in pain due to the work Zola was doing on him. The mad doctor mused over the results he had been given in regard to Howlett's resilience to the pain and torture, pondering how such a thing could be.
"How remarkable." He noted, walking around James' trapped form. "Your cells are reproducing at an astronomical rate. Healing your injuries as fast as zey are inflicted."
"Why don't we see if you're any different Zola," Howlett spat back.
"Such venom." he taunted, a cruel smirk on his face as he drew a scalpel. "I vill enjoy tearing you apart."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," a voice called out.
Zola and Howlett looked to see Steve knocking out some other scientists in the room. Zola used this distraction to discreetly escape from the lab. Steve let him go so he could free Howlett from his confines. He used his shield to break the straps holding him down.
"Thank for the help." Howlett told him, rotating his shoulders. "Though I don't remember you among the 107th. Got a name?"
"Steve Rogers," he replied, helping him up.
"Rogers…" Howlett realized, getting to his feet. "You wouldn't know a James Barnes, would ya?"
"He's part of the reason I'm here. You know where he is?"
"Yeah, I do. Come on."
The two made their way out of the room, Howlett leading the way.
"Gota say, I expected you to be a lot scrawnier than this from what Buck told me," Howlett remarked.
"Kinda a long story with that," Steve replied.
"Got something to do with the goofy outfit?"
"You might say that."
As the two prepared to round a corner, Howlett stopped them both. With a surprising amount of strength, he pushed Steve against the wall. He then began sniffing the air, gritting his teeth and growling.
"Stay here bub," he insisted. "And do me one favor."
"What's that?"
"Don't freak out."
Howlett clenched his fists, allowing a set of three bone claws to emerge from his fists. With an animalistic howl, he ran out from around the corner, attacking a few soldiers coming towards them. He slashed several of their throats and stabbed a few others. Several of the others started opening fire on Howlett, but the bullets did nothing to stop him. Steve just held back, watching the carnage play out until he saw more soldiers approaching. Reacting fast, Steve ran forward, kicking one soldier in the chest before elbowing another. He then slipped his shield off his back and used it smack a soldier across the face, knocking him to the ground. He caught sight of one last soldier firing at Howlett and tossed the shield at him knocking the gun out of his hand just as Howlett spun around and drove his claws into his chest, howling as he did so. As he pulled his claws out and the soldier dropped to the ground, Steve walked up to him, an unreadable expression on his face.
"What?" Howlett asked. "Gonna scream? Say I'm a freak? A monster!?"
Steve said nothing, walking past him and picking up the shield.
"I was going to tell you to move your ass," He told him, moving forward.
Howlett looked at Steve in surprise, following after.
"You ain't scared?"
"Soldier, a few months back I was a 4-foot-tall asthmatic. Now I'm told I'm the peak of physical perfection. Little phases me anymore."
Howlett chuckled. "Fair enough. "Call me Lucky Jim. Everyone does."
"Alright then, Jim."
…
The two then carried on a bit further until they came across another table like the one Howlett was strapped down to. Only this one held Bucky.
"Sergeant…. James…. Barnes… Serial code…. 32557-"
"Buck!" Steve called out rushing over to him. "It's me! It's Steve."
Steve and Howlett pulled off the straps holding Bucky down. Bucky slowly turned to Steve, his eyes slowly focusing on him.
"Steve… is that… really you?"
"It's me Buck," Steve confirmed. "Oh man… I thought you were dead."
"... I thought you were smaller." Bucky replied.
"Long story about that," Steve told him as he and Howlett helped him to his feet. "Short version; I joined the army."
"Did it hurt?" Bucky asked, trying to focus on anything but the sheer amount of pain he was in.
"A little."
"Is it permanent?"
"So far."
…
The three soldiers made their way through the facility, Jim and Steve practically carrying Bucky.
"Leaving so soon my friends?" a voice called out.
The three turned to see Johann Schmidt, the man in charge of HYDRA, standing in the way of their exit, as if waiting for them to arrive.
"I'm afraid I cannot allow an early departure," he continued.
"Yeah? Well I ain't exactly keen on what you allow," Howlett mouthed off.
"Ah the wit of… what did Zola call you? The Wolverine?"
Howlett growled at that remark.
"Hey!" Steve called out, stepping in front of Howlett. "You want to pick a fight with someone, try me."
"Ah yes, the famous Captain America. I am a fan of your films."
Schmidt began walking out to meet the Captain himself, who had drawn his shield in preparation.
"So, Dr. Erskine managed to recreate the serum after all." Schmidt mused. Not exactly an improvement, but still, impressive."
"How about you take a closer look!"
Steve then punched Schmidt across the face, prompting the HYDRA leader to deliver one of his own. Steve quickly brought up the shield to block it, but his hit left a fist shaped dent in the shield. Steve was caught off guard, but this kept him distracted long enough for Howlett to come and aid him. Howlett extended his claws and tried slashing at Schmidt, but the HYDRA leader just kept backing away. After one strike clawed him across the face, Schmidt grabbed Howlett's arm and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying into Steve. As Schmidt walked closer to them, Steve kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the other side of the platform.
"We don't have time for this," Howlett snapped. "We need to get out of here."
Knowing his friend was right, Steve backed away and joined back up with the others.
"No matter what lies Erskine told you," Schmidt called out, earning their attention. "You see I was his greatest success!"
He then grabbed at his neck, clawing at the skin and peeling it away. As he did, he revealed bright red skin underneath. He completely lacked a nose, and his face was more like a skull than a face. The three stood, staring at Schmidt in horror.
"And people say I'm a freak..." Howlett muttered.
"You don't have one of those do you?" Bucky asked Steve.
Steve just remained silent as he looked on.
"You are deluded, Captain," Schmidt continued, discarding his mask. "You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality, you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind."
He just walked away as the three just stood there.
"Unlike you, I embrace it proudly! Without fear!"
"Then how come you're running?" Steve called back.
Schmidt just smirked, then held up a hand. He had a remote with a single red button on it. He hit the button, beginning a chain of explosions that shook the entire facility. The three were rocked by the numerous blasts as Schmidt made his escape.
"Come on," Steve commanded. "Let's get out of here."
The three climbed higher up into the facility to get away from the blasts. They found a narrow catwalk that could allow them to cross.
"Looks like it can only hold one at a time," Steve observed.
"You go first." Howlett insisted.
"But-" Steve began to protest.
"There's no time to argue!" Howlett insisted. "Go!"
Steve reluctantly made his way across the catwalk, feeling the metal creaking underneath him. He sped up at the last moment, only for the catwalk to give out the second he made it across.
"Bucky!" he screamed. "Jim!"
Jim swore under his breath, then grabbed Bucky by his collar.
"Sorry 'bout this." he whispered.
Before Bucky could react, Jim threw him with all his strength, sending him all the way across the now broken catwalk. He collided with Steve, the two falling to the ground as another explosion practically incinerated where Jim had been. The two quickly got back up and rushed to the edge to see where their comrade fell.
"Jim…" Bucky let out.
Steve understood how he felt, even if he only knew him a short time. However, there was still the issue at hand.
"Come on. Let's go."
Reluctantly, Bucky followed Steve out of the facility as it continued to go up in flames.
…
Outside the facility, the other prisoners were making short work of the HYDRA soldiers. Bucky and Steve were quick to join in the fight. Bucky kicked one soldier to the ground and quickly grabbed his machine gun. He then opened fire on every HYDRA soldier in sight. Steve provided what little cover he could with his shield, grateful that it seemed to be at least slightly bullet proof. During the fighting, Steve noticed something stirring in the remains of the building. As he turned to face it, a burned and charred body made its way outside towards the fight. As it came closer, flesh began to regrow on the body, reforming muscles and basic features. Soon, the burns all faded away, making way for the seemingly untouched face of James Howlett. Steve just stood shocked by this revelation.
"I'll be damned." he simply said.
Those bone claws came out again as Howlett charged at some oncoming HYDRA soldiers. He wasted no time taking them down before they even realized what was going on. He finished, then grabbed one of the soldiers by the legs.
"Gonna need to borrow your pants." he told the dead body.
Bucky just chuckled. "Now you see why we call him Lucky Jim."
"I think I picked up on that, yeah." Steve replied.
…
After all the fighting was done, Steve, Bucky, Jim, and the other 400 prisoners made their way back to the Allied Base Camp. Their arrival was as much a shock as it was a miracle, all these men walking into the camp, many of them carrying stolen weapons of their comrades who couldn't walk. One of the soldiers named Dum Dum Dugan was even driving a tank. As Steve walked through the camp, he was greeted by Colonel Phillips.
"Colonel Phillips," Steve greeted. "Some of these men require medical attention."
The Colonel glanced at the men pouring into the camp, men he had expected never to see again. He had initially believed that Steve wasn't fit to be a soldier, but he had just proven his worth 50 times over. With a rare smile, the Colonel nodded and patted Rogers on the shoulder.
"Good job… Captain."
"...Thank you, sir." Steve replied.
Through the crowd of spectators, Agent Carter pushed her way through, her eyes locking on Rogers. She ran up to him, and for a moment, she almost looked like she was ready to kiss him. However, she quickly regained her senses and straightened herself.
"You're late." she informed him, trying to sound cross.
In response, Steve held up the broken transponder.
"Couldn't call my ride." he explained.
"Hey!" Bucky called out." Let's hear it for Captain America!"
The entire camp, former prisoners, and spectators, all broke into thunderous applause. Steve couldn't help but smile at this. Going from being a joke to a hero overnight, it was quite a feeling. From that day forward, Captain America became a true symbol for freedom, and Steve Rogers was finally able to serve his country, just as he'd always dreamed of doing.
...
The final intro chapter! Hooray! After this, the main story begins! get ready folks.
Captain America
Voice Actor: Chris Evans
Appearance: WWII costume for now. Will upgrade to Age of Ultron suit later.