-Hydra Factory, Austria-

- February, 1944-

The Commandos scramble out the side doors of a HYDRA factory.

They dive for cover and wait. No explosion. They peer out from their cover.

"Where the hell is Steve?" Bucky asks when he notices their leader wasn't with them.

A shattering glass makes everyone to look up and see Steve crashes through a factory window on his motorcycle. The factory behind him explodes! Steve hits the ground, roaring toward the gate.

"Show off." Mutters Eddie without a hint of jealousy and the howling commandos follow after their captain.

- Frozen Woods, Czechoslovakia-

-March, 1944-

The woods stand white and silent. Then seven snow dressed figures rise out of the snow like ghosts. The howling commandos shake off the snow and creep forward.

Suddenly an eighth figure flies out of the snow; Steve in his red, white, and blue suit.

A rifle cracks, a bullet pings off the shield. Steve spins and hurls his shield at the sniper. The sniper falls out of a far tree. The commandos smile and continue their trek.

- ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, BRIEFING ROOM-

Private Lorraine hands over a clipboard to Peggy who reads it. After digesting the information, she moves to a map removes a Hydra flag and drops it into a box and picks up an SSR flag.

She sticks it in the map.

-Greece, Hydra Factory-

-May, 1944-

Steve and Jones ride in the back of a jeep as Dugan drives away from the burning factory. A HYDRA fighter plane swoops over them, guns blazing.

Steve blocks with his shield as Jones opens his .30 CAL.

The plane bears down. Jones stitches it up the middle. It catches fire, spins out of control and crashes ahead of them.

Dugan slows to a stop. The three of them stare, impressed.

-London-

-May, 1944-

Frenchie runs through the woods.

A bomb is tucked under his arm. Parallel to him, a HYDRA fast-track races along a road.

Frenchie rolls under the fast-track. He magnets the bomb to the bottom of the vehicle as it roars over him. He jumps to his feet in time to see the Fast-Track explode!

-Allied Headquarters, Briefing Room-

Peggy, Phillips, Lorraine and a few other staff and higher ups of the SSR are watching footage from Captain America and the howling commandos.

The camera moves past Falsworth and Frenchie drinking from their canteens. Dugan drinks from a flask.

Bucky and Steve survey a map.

Eddie sees the camera and smiles and waves.

Private Lorraine does her best not to laugh. Colonel Phillips looks more annoyed with a video of Eddie then he has with Eddie was in person. Peggy rolls her eyes in amusement.

The camera focuses on Steve's open compass; taped to the inside is a newspaper photograph of Peggy.

The real Peggy adjusts in her seat, flattered.

The camera whips up. Steve stares at the camera, annoyed. He snaps the compass shut.

Phillips eyes Peggy, amused. She stares at the screen and... smiles.

- Hydra Factory, Greece-

-June 1944-

RED SKULL screams at Zola, "You are failing!"

Zola cringes before him. Around them, Hydra troops search the rubble of another burned factory.

Red Skull continued his rant, "We are close to an offensive that will shake the planet, Doctor. Yet we are continually delayed because you can't outwit a clown dressed in a flag!"

Zola gestures at the devastated facility, "Sir, this is hardly my area of expertise. I merely develop the weapons; I cannot fire them."

A moment passes as Zola waits for a response, so he continued to say, "And the Allies did not take this installation easily. Your troops fought to the death."

Red Skull said, "And now they are dead. I trust you see the problem. Finish your mission, Doctor. Before the American finishes his."

He puts his hands on either side of Zola's head, squeezing a little, bringing their faces close, "You have done great things. Do this once more."

Zola contemplates his task.

A hydra soldier calls out "Sir!". The troops haul the injured Plant manager, Veldt, from the rubble. Skull bids them forward.

"We fought to the last man..." says Veldt.

Zola cringes as Skull pulls his Luger.

Red skull, "Very nearly." Zola turns away, his face illuminated briefly by an inevitable flash of blue light.

"Herr Skull!" called out a hydra trooper. Skull turned to see a Hydra medical doctor, "He is awake."

-Hydra Cell-

Red Skull walked into what used to be a prison cell that was later refurbished into a miniature hospital room. Hydra didn't have medical doctors who treated the wounded instead they were more concerned with modifying the human body or designing a virus to wipe out enemies. But for Valdo Shapiro was a special exception.

"You have finally awaken Shapiro." Said Red Skull as he saw his greatest weapon attempt a salute. The young man's beautiful face was badly scarred his left side ripped apart to show rows of teeth.

"Apologies…Herr Skull." Grunted Valdo as he tried to sit up straight.

"Enough with the formalities." Dismissed Red Skull as he moved his to protegee's side. Valdo looked at Red Skull's true face and didn't react. "I was told you had important information to share."

"Yes, I…I…" Valdo clenched his fist, "I know who possesses the tesseract power." Red Skull gave a vicious smile.

"Who?"