The Other Rogers

Chapter 29

Steve sat in his seat, whistling along with the rest of the crowd as they cheered for his best friend. He couldn’t help but feel a little smug at how uncomfortable Bucky looked, but that smugness didn't last long as Anya pinched his arm harshly. She left her seat, running for the exist before Bucky even left the stage.

Sighing, Steve felt saddened that he couldn’t help comfort his friend, but in all honestly he didn’t really know how to deal with Bucky anymore. He wasn’t James Buchanan Barnes, but he wasn’t a ruthless killer either.

Anya had been with the man through it all, if anyone could help him now, it would be her.

Steve turned back to the stage where Ross started to talk again. “Our last soldier is one that hasn’t been known by the history books. Steve was not the only child born to Sarah and Joseph Rogers. He had a twin sister, Anya Sarah Rogers. She was born a few hours after her brother and like most twins, they were inseparable.”

A photograph of Anya in her SSR uniform was on the screen causing everyone to gasp.

Ross continued, his eyes sparkling. “Just like her brother, she had morals and values that wouldn’t allow her to stay home while others fought. As a SSR agent, Ms. Rogers worked closely with Howard Stark and Agent Carter. It was there that she first met Doctor Abraham Erskine and later studied as his apprentice. She was the other creator of the ‘Rebirth Program’ and the serum that turned her brother into the soldier we all know today.”

Steve smiled at the screen as another image came up, tears stinging his eyes. It was a photograph of them standing next to Bucky at the fair. It was the day that Bucky had forced him on the Cyclone, how they had gotten their hands on it was beyond him, but at that moment he didn’t care.

“Agent Rogers became a nurse on the front lines and was stationed out in Azzano, Italy for a few months until she was called back for the preparation of the ‘Rebirth’. Sadly, by the time she arrived, Doctor Erskine’s life had already been maliciously taken. Now unknown to many, including myself until an hour or so ago, Anya also underwent the ‘Rebirth Program’ with a second serum, one she made herself. This serum was targeted for more the intellectual and strategic side of a soldier. Now she hadn’t been prepared to be the recipient of it, but was chosen by Erskine, Stark and Carter.”

A short recording of Erskine and his sister working together came up and Steve sworn he had never seen her as happy and carefree since their mother died.

Ross continued to talk about his sister, “While over there, Anya had saved over a thousand soldiers on her own and was nominated the best nurse. Sadly, in Nineteen Forty-Three, around the same time Sergeant Barnes’ unit was captured, the camp she was stationed at was attacked. By then she had been promoted to Colonel but unfortunately that promotion was unknown to her as she was one of the few nurses that were taken as prisoners of war.”

Looking down, Steve bit his lip his fists clenching in anger. “Lieutenant Colonel Rogers was an outstanding fighter and nurse who served her duty from the beginning of Nineteen Forty-Three to the end of Nineteen Forty-Three; until she sacrificed herself in hopes of saving an injured Soldier after another soldier had been killed helping her escape. Lieutenant Colonel Rogers fought bravely despite being severely injured. Because of this, I have some awards to present to her.”

Steve looked around as Ross called his sister to the stage, but she was no where to be seen. She was still out the back with Bucky. He was about to get up and search for her when he spied Fury leaving the side of the stage where he had been previously hidden by the shadows and left the room.

Steve nodded when Ross caught his attention, indicating that she was coming. It didn’t take long for Fury to come back with Anya and Bucky in tow.

“Now just like Sergeant Barnes, Colonel Anya Rogers was kept as a Prisoner of War for the last seven decades, so along with her brother and Barnes, Anya is being awarded the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf.” Ross helped her onto the stage, his face pulling in surprise at he felt the unnatural coldness of her hand.