Sentimental Journey

09

LONDON

Steve made his way to Anneliese and signed, 'I'm so sorry.'

Anneliese frowned. 'Sorry about what? Steve, where's Bucky? He's okay, right?'

'No, Lisie, he isn't.'

Anneliese's eyes stung and she sniffled. 'What happened?'

'He fell from the train. I tried to save him, but I couldn't.'

Steve pulled his friend into his arms as they tried to come to terms with what had happened.

BAR

The two made their way to the bar where Steve had enlisted his Howling Commandos.

Peggy followed the voice of a radio through the rubble.

A man on the radio said, "Blackout is still in effect throughout the London area. Please wait for the all-clear. Your attention, please. All citizens shall remain indoors until further notice. Blackout is still in effect throughout the London area."

Peggy found Steve and Anneliese pouring themselves a drink.

Steve glanced up and said, "Dr. Erskine said that... the serum wouldn't just effect my muscles, it would effect my cells. Create a protective system of regeneration and healing. Which means um... I can't get drunk. I don't think Lisie can either. Did you know that?"

Peggy looked between them before saying, "Your metabolism burns four times faster than the average person. He thought it could be one of the side effects." She changed subject. "It wasn't your fault."

"Did you read the reports?"

"Yes."

"Then you know that's not true."

"You did everything you could. Did you believe in your friend, her lover? Did you respect him?" Steve looked at her as if to say yes. "Then stop blaming yourself. Allow Barnes the dignity of his choice. He damn well must have thought you were worth it."

"I'm goin' after Schmidt. I'm not gonna stop till all of Hydra is dead or captured."

"You won't be alone."

'Might I come?' Anneliese asked.

Steve nodded. 'Sure'

RED SKULL'S HEADQUARTERS

The team prepared a battle plan to take down Red Skull.

"Johann Schmidt belongs in a bug house," Colonel Phillips said. "He thinks he's a god. He's willing to blow up half the world to prove it, starting with the USA."

"Schmidt's working with powers beyond our capabilities," Howard informed. "He gets across the Atlantic, he will wipe out the entire eastern sea board in an hour."

"How much time we got?" Gabe asked.

"According to my new best friend, under twenty-four hours," Colonel Phillips replied.

"Where is he now?" Jacques questioned.

"Hydra's last base is here." Holding up a photo, he pointed to the base. "In the Alps. Five hundred feet below the surface."

"So, what are we supposed to do?" Jim Morita wondered. "I mean, it's not like we can just knock on the front door."

"Why not?" Steve retorted. "That's exactly what we're gonna do."

---

Steve and Anneliese were captured by Hydra soldiers and brought to Schmidt's weapon lab.

"Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say, you both do it better than anyone. But there are limits to what even you and the young woman can do, Captain. Or did Erskine tell you otherwise?"

"He told me you were insane," Steve shot back.

"Ah. He resented my genius and tried to deny me what was rightfully mine. But he gave you everything. So, what made you so special?"

"Nothin'. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn. She's just a kid from Germany who's made her life better."

Schmidt started beating them up and Steve said, "I can do this all day."

"Oh, of course you can," Schmidt said. "Of course. But unfortunately I am on a tight schedule." He took out his cube-energy pistol and pointed it between Steve and Anneliese, before pointing the pistol at Anneliese's head.

"So are we!" Steve yelled as his and Anneliese's team crashed through the windows of the weapons lab.

"Rogers!" Falsworth called. "You might need this!" He threw Steve his shield.

"Thanks!" Steve made his way through the Hydra base, followed by Anneliese, which had fallen into chaos with the arrival of more Allied soldiers.

Jim said into his comm, "We're in! Assault team, go!"

Colonel Phillips stood outside listening to Morita and said, "Move out!" The soldiers began running towards the Hydra base. "Keep your spacing!"

HYDRA BASE

A Hydra soldier said, "Cut off one head, two more shall..." He was killed by Colonel Phillips.

"Let's go find two more!" Colonel Phillips ordered.

As Steve and Anneliese chased Schmidt, they were confronted by a Hydra soldier with flamethrowers and were saved by Peggy.

After Peggy had killed the Hydra soldier, Steve said, "You're late."

"Weren't you two about to..." Peggy trailed.

"Right," Steve finished as he and Anneliese continued their chase.

Schmidt boarded the Valkyrie and Steve and Anneliese weren't fast enough to catch the plane. Behind them, Colonel Phillips and Peggy appeared in a car to pick them up to chase the plane on the runway. "Keep it steady!" Just as Steve and Anneliese were about to leap from the roadster onto Schmidt's plane, Peggy stopped them.

"Wait!" Peggy called, kissing Steve. "Go get him." Steve, surprised by the kiss, looked at Colonel Phillips.

Colonel Phillips said, "I'm not kissin' you! Or her!"

Anneliese did her best to push past the sadness and jealousy she felt for her friend's ability to share such a moment with someone he cared for while the man she adored was gone. She shook her head. She couldn't be thinking about that right now. There were more important things to focus on.

Steve and Anneliese managed to get onto one of the plane's wheels as it took flight.

INSIDE THE VALKYRIE

There were multiple fighter planes with their targets written on them: Boston, Chicago, New York.

The two fought to disable the fighter planes and their pilots.

While Steve was going after one of the fight pilots, he lost his shield. He jumped onto the fighter plane and sent one pilot through the blades and ejected the other. Inside, Anneliese picked up the shield and continued fighting.

Steve flew the fighter plane back into the Valkyrie and took his shield back from Michaela.

The two entered the cockpit where Schmidt was waiting.

"You two don't give up, do you?" Schmidt asked.

"Nope!" Steve replied as the three fought.

"You could have the power of the gods! You both could! Yet you wear a flag on your chest and think you fight a battle of nations! I have seen the future, Captain, ma'am! There are no flags!"

"Not my future! Not hers!" Steve yelled as he flung his shield at Schmidt who was thrown into the cubic console.

"What have you done? No." He picked up the cube and energy started to pour from it, revealing a window into space. A stream of blue energy engulfed Schmidt and took him into the sky. The cube fell to the ground and burned through it until it fell into the sea below.

Anneliese stared at the hole, then looked to her friend. 'How are we going to get out of here?'

Steve shook his head. 'I'm not sure, but we'll find a way.'