Ultimate Captain America #3"VOWS"
by: moonmaster
1945: NEW YORK CITY
Steve and Gail walked slowly down the street, holding hands. Their pace was more leisurely than usual, and the sidewalk was all but empty. They had spent the entire lazy summer day together. As Steve's military career took up more and more time, he and Gail found themselves miles away from each other more and more often. But this was a special day, when the two had all the time in the world. Steve stopped and gazed at and old rundown diner.
"Hey Gail, remember this place?"
"Oh yeah, the Sunset Diner. We used to go here together when we first met."
"It is where we first met. Wanna get something to eat? I'm starved."
"I guess. Are you sure it's still open?"
"Yeah, c'mon."
Steve led Gail in the door. The place was dingier and darker than they had remembered. They sat in a small booth by the window and a waitress came and took their order.
"Steve, we have to talk about something-"
"Wait, there's something I have to tell you. Look, we've been together for so long. We've been through thick and thin together. I don't know what you saw in me when we first met here, but I know you saw something. You believed in me. Gail," Steve pulled a small, black box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"
"Oh, Steve.....yes." They kissed for what felt like forever.
"Gail, what were you going to tell me?"
"Um, I wanted to talk to you about your.....your career."
"What?"
"I just-I worry about you Steve. You're always putting yourself in danger. I just don't know what I would do if you never came home."
"Honey, you don't have to worry. You know what I can do. You know that it would take a hell of a lot more than what they've thrown at me so far to stop me."
"But you know they could. Fate can strike at any time, good or bad."
"Don't think about fate, Gail. Not today. This is our day. We can't let fate ruin it. All we can do is make this moment last forever. I promise you, Gail, nothing will ever stop me from coming home. Nothing."
2004:BERLIN
The command room was spacious and had a large table in center of it. Captain America, in full costume entered the room with Nick Fury at his side. They greeted the select group of German officials who sat at the table.
"Alright, let's get down to business." said the German Prime Minister.
"What business exactly?" asked Fury. "You said you would explain everything once we got over here."
"Yes, yes. I will tell you why you are needed it time, but first I must explain the situation." At this the Prime Minister spoke something in German to a nearby soldier. The soldier pulled down a large flat screen behind him. "Two days ago, a group of German politicians held a summit here in Berlin at a nearby convention center. A large group of people quickly set up outside and began protesting. For a time, we did nothing, they were not hurting anyone. But soon, things began to escalate." The screen turned on and displayed the protestors yelling in front of a large building."We learned that they were a neo-nazi group. They dress in S.S. uniforms and wave swatstikas. We decided that it would be best to break them up, disperse them, but we were unable to. You see, their numbers grew. They spread to various points in the city. Neo-nazis from all over the world were gathering here. We could not stop them. They became increasingly violent. On day 3, the summit members attempted to leave. Their driver was shot in the head as they were trying to escape, and they were taken hostage by the group. 13 of the most powerful men in Germany. They've already shot one, and promise to kill another tomorrow."
"May I ask, Prime Minister, what this has to do with us."
"The group has a leader. We've never seen him and we have no idea who he is, but he has made one very specific request. He said that if this demand is met, he will release the hostages."
"And what is this request?"
"He wants to see Captain America."
1945: ICELAND
Johann cringed at the sound of the siren. The warning repeated again over the speakers.
"CODE BLACK. EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY. I REPEAT, CODE BLACK."
Heinrich tore apart his office like a madman, dimly lit by the red glow of the emergency lights. He clutched a stack of papers to his chest and dumped them haphazardly into a black leather bag.
"Years of research. I have to save it all."
"Sir, I th-think we have to leave."
"I am not done yet. We will leave once I am done." Johann walked to the farside of the office and looked out the window. Paratrooper wafted downward across a gray, early-morning sky. On the ground, bullets flew and explosions erupted everywhere.
"Get away from that window, boy!"
Johann saw a single plane heading for the compound. It exploded as it crashed and the entire facility shook. Johann was knocked off of his feet. He rose and looked down once more. One man gallantly fought his way through a throng of German soldiers, carrying a star-spangled shield. Heinrich, startled, came to Johann's side.
"Is-is that him?"
"He is here...."
"I could never fight him. I could never match him."
"But you will. Someday. For now, you can be assured that you are above him, and you always will be. He is scum. You are a king.....We have to leave this place. Now."
He grabbed Johann's wrist and stormed out of the office, grabbing his bag as he left. He rushed down the hall to the emergency staircase.
"One last stop."
They hurried down the dark staircase to the fourth floor. There Heinrich entered and abandoned lab. He ran to a small steel freezer and opened the door.
"They couldn't have taken all the samples. There has to be one left.." Heinrich retrieved a small vial full of a clear, viscous substance. "Here it is."
"What is it?"
"This, Johann is the key to your future."
The two ran back to the stairwell and rushed to the ground floor. They made their way to a hangar, empty except for a single plane. Heinrich helped Johann into the second seat and then got in to the front seat.
"Can you fly."
"I began my career flying planes."
After flipping switches and fiddling with dials, the plane crept to life. The plane began to take off and just barely made it into the air.
"Where are we going?"
"Someplace we'll be safe. Where your future will be safe. I promise you Johann, you will fulfill you destiny. You will."
