The Red Shadow - Bucky Barnes

Chapter Nineteen

Sam sits at his desk, watching the footage Torres sent him from yesterday. He watches the Flag Smasher carefully. He grabs his phone that he has Torres on FaceTime with and props it up on his computer. 

"So, this is the leader of the Flag Smashers, huh?" Sam asks, watching the footage of the masked man take Torres gun.

"Yeah," Torres replies, bandages over his cuts, "Real nice guy."

"I thought you were supposed to be monitoring them online," Sam states.

"I was, I did," Torres says, "But you know, sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty, or a broken orbital." Sam scoffs as Torres moves his face closer to the camera to show his injury.

"You're lucky that's all you got," Sam jokes, studying the footage of the man kicking the police, "He's strong."

"He was," Torres looks down, "I mean, bro, they went dark as soon as it was all over. But that's their M.O., we just gotta keep are eyes and ears to the ground till they pop up again."

"Anything else happen outside the video?" Sam asks.

"No, why? What are you thinking?" 

"Nothin'," Sam replied, looking down at his desk.

"Wait, you don't think he could be a-"

"Look I'll circle back to you," Sam interrupted, "Just keep this between me and you. Okay?"

"Alright," Torres replied, "There is actually something you should know," Torres scratches the back of his head. Sam turned his focus back to Torres, "There was this woman there. She was like some sort of assassin. She was like crazy good at what she does. She saved my life. I've been seeing her around lately. She's at almost every single one of their little meetings."

"What's she look like?" Sam questioned. He wanted to know more about this person.

"She wore a black and blue suit. She had some katanas on her back, uh, she had a hood and mask on so I couldn't really see what she looked like," Torres continued, "I know, you're going to think I'm crazy, but she kind of fought like Layla and she looked like Layla." Sam rolled his eyes and scoffed. "What? It could be true. They technically never found her body, she's probably still alive."

"Then, why would she be out there and not here helping us?" Sam said, "Look let's just put this past us and move forward. It's probably just some random vigilante-"

"Oh my God, Sam," Sarah says, walking into the room and turning the TV on. Sam quickly closes his computer and hung up on Torres. Sam leans forward in his chair as he watches The Senator give his speech.

 "Unrest in the wake of recent events has made us vulnerable. Every day, Americans feel it. While we love heroes who put their lives on the line to defend Earth, we also need a hero to defend this country. We need a real person who embodies America's greatest values. We need someone to inspire us again. Someone who can be a symbol for all of us. So, in behalf of the Department of Defense and our Commander-In-Chief, it is with great honor, that we announce today, that the United States of America has a new hero. Join me in welcoming your new Captain America," The Senator announces. Sam's heart races as he watches a man walk through the doors in a blue suit holding Captain America's shield. The crowd applauds and cheers as their new hero stands before them. The man winks at the camera. Sam sighs and turns the TV off.

~

Sam walks through the Military building and sees a poster with the new Captain America, John Walker, on it. He studies it and sighs. 

"Seems like a good guy," Torres says behind him, holding papers, "You met him?"

"No," Sam replies, "Thanks for doing this on such short notice." 

"Yeah. No sweat," Torres says as they walk to the stairs, "I'm just finishing up the checklist. Soon, you'll be all ready to go on your flight to Munich."

Sam walks down the stair and sees a familiar super soldier walking towards him.

"Shouldn't have given up the shield," Bucky argues, with a frown. 

"Good to see you too, Buck," Sam says, walking past him.

"This is wrong," Bucky stated, following him.

"Hey, hey, look, I'm working, all right?" Sam responds, "So, all this outrage is going to have to wait."

"You didn't know that was going to happen," Bucky raises his voice a bit, pointing at the poster with John on it.

"No, of course I didn't know that was going to happen," Sam says, "You think it didn't break my heart to see them march him out there and call him the new Captain America."

"This isn't what Steve wanted," Bucky scoffs.

"Oh my God," Sam rolls his eyes, "So, what do you want me to do? Call America and tell 'em I changed my mind, huh?" Sam chuckles and pats Bucky on the back, "Yeah, right. It's a great reunion, buddy, be well."

"You had no right to give up the shield, Sam," Bucky states, pointing at Sam.

"Hey, this is what your not gonna do," Sam says, turning to him, "You're not gonna come here, in your overextended life and tell me about my rights." Bucky looks away. "It's over, Bucky. Besides, I have bigger things to deal with, right now." Sam says, gesturing towards the military plane being prepared. 

"What could be bigger than this?" 

"This guy," Sam pulls his phone out and shows Bucky the footage of the Flag Smashers, "His connections with rebel organizations all over Eastern and Central Europe and he's strong. Too strong."

"And?" Bucky asks.

"Well, he's connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers," Sam explains, Bucky looks away in annoyance, "Now, Red Wing tranced them to a building somewhere outside of Munich, so that's where I'm goin'." Sam tries to walks off but Bucky stops him.

"Well, I don't trust Red Wing," Bucky argues, "Hold on a minute."

"You don't have to trust Red Wing," Sam says, "But I'm gonna go see if he's right. Because I have a feeling they might be part of the Big Three."

"What Big Three?" Bucky asks.

"The Big Three," Sam replies, emphasizing 'the'. 

"What Big Three?" Bucky repeats.

"Androids, aliens, and wizards."

"That's not a thing," Bucky argues, shaking his head.

"That is definitely a thing," Sam defends himself. 

"No it's not," Bucky states.

"Every time we fight, we fight one of the three," Sam explains.

"So, who are you fighting now, Gandalf?" Bucky challenges.

"E-, how do you know 'bout Gandalf?" Sam asks.

"I read The Hobbit, in 1937, when it first came out," Bucky states.

"So, you see my point," Sam says.

"No. I don't," Bucky defends, "There are no wizards."

"Doctor Strange."

"Is a sorcerer."

"Ah, ha, ha, a sorcerer is a wizard without a hat," Sam says, poking Bucky in the chest, "Think about it, right?" Bucky looks off in a different direction, annoyance all over his face. "I'm right. I just- I just came up with that. It's crazy. But that's not the point. These guys aren't magical, all right? They use brute force just like you, the incredibly annoying guy in front of me with the staring problem," Sam says, walking towards the plane.

"I'm coming with you!" Bucky calls after him.

"No, you're not!"