fiction | Part of the journey is the end

Book 5 - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | 1. New world order

Sam ironed his shirt and put it on. He also put on his blazer glancing at Captain America's shield on his bed.

Steve smiled at Sam. He couldn't wait to see him as Captain America.

Sam felt mixed emotions about the shield. It had a complicated legacy, to say the least.

He put it in a case and zipped it up.

"What are you doing?" asked Bucky.

Sam shrugged.

"How does it feel?" "Like it's someone else's." "It isn't."

Steve nodded. It wasn't someone else's; it was Sam's since he was the best person for the shield.

Cut to a plane flying overhead. "The criminal organization known as LAF is targeting Captain Vasant, one of our military liaisons," a Major explained.

Everyone blinked in surprise at Sam working in the Air Force again.

"You're working with the Air Force again?" Steve asked, curiously.

"I thought the reason you didn't agree with the Accords was that you agreed with Steve's point that people with agendas ran the UN," said Tony, slightly bitter. "I think the US Air Force definitely has an agenda."

Sam looked baffled. He left the Air Force for a reason; he didn't know why he was back in it.

"LAF?" asked Sam, dressed in his Falcon suit.

Everyone raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you in your Falcon suit?" asked Bucky. "And not a Captain America suit?"

Sam sighed.

The Major explained that they lost contact with Vasant's plane after it took off, and it had already entered Tunisian airspace. He also said that the US military could not be seen operating out there.

Everyone grimaced.

"So why are they?" Wanda spat out. "Typical."

Sam said he got it as he opened the door to the plane. "You guys fly low, drop me off, I fly up to intercept. No treaties violated."

Natasha hoped any treaties wouldn't be violated; there didn't need to be another Accords situation.

The Major said First Lieutenant Torres would be on the ground, helping him. The mission had to be subtle. "Subtle. Got it," said Sam as he dropped out of the plane and activated his wings.

Everyone snorted as Sam smirked.

On the ground, there were jeeps full of soldiers. "Sam, Torres here. Sending intel to your HUD right now," said Torres as he watched Sam through his binoculars. Sam asked if there was any sign of LAF. Torres said nothing yet. Sam landed on top of the plane and peeked in to see the pilot was dead and LAF was piloting the plane.

"Shit," everyone cursed.

Sam told Torres that LAF had already hijacked the plane. Torres said they were going to need to call some people. The LAF hijacker saw Sam and was startled. Sam flew back.

Everyone snickered.

"I would be scared too if I saw a man hanging on the outside of the plane," said Peter.

"Did you see that?" the hijacker told Batroc in French.

Natasha and Steve blinked in surprise.

"Batroc?" Steve groaned.

Everyone looked at the two, confused.

"You've met him before?" asked Bucky.