Earth's Mightiest Heroes

The Price Of Freedom Is High

An hour later Sam, Hill and I were walking up to the Triskelion. I had gone to the Smithsonian and stole my old uniform. It wasn't the Captain America one. It was the one I wore before Steve fell. I was hoping he would remember. The three of us went to the tech room. Hill jammed a signal which would cause someone to come out to take a look. The door opened. Sam and Hill pointed their guns at the guy.

"Excuse us," I said. The guy held up his hands and let us in. I went over to the intercom system. "Attention, all Shield agents. This is Kennedy Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. Shield is not what we thought it was, it's been taken over by Hydra. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The Strike and Insight crew are Hydra as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want: absolute control. They shot Nick Fury and it won't end there. If you launch those Helicarriers today, Hydra will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot, but the price of freedom is high, it always has been, and it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

Sam chuckled, "Did you write that down first or was it off the top of your head?"

I smirked, "Come on." I turned to Hill, "You got this?"

"Yes, now go," she responded.

Sam and I headed out the door and onto the launch pad.

"Hey, Cap, how do we know the good guys from the bad guys?" Sam called.

"If they're shooting at you, they're bad," I told him as I jumped onto one of the Helicarriers. Sam took off toward another one.

"Hey, Cap," he said, "I found those bad guys you were talking about."

"You okay?"

"Not dead yet."

I beat back Hydra agents as I made my way into the place where the chips were.

"Falcon, status?" Hill asked.

"Engaging," he responded, "Alright, Cap, I'm in." There was a brief pause then, "Shit!"

"Eight minutes, Cap," Hill told me.

"Working on it," I said as I made my way over to the huge control panel. I changed out the chips, "Alpha locked."

"Bravo locked," Sam said.

"Charlie Carrier's forty-five degrees off the port bow," Hill explained, "Six minutes."

"Hey, Sam," I called, "I'm gonna need a lift." I ran toward the edge of the helicarrier.

"Roger! Let me know when you're ready."

"I just did!" I yelled as I jumped off. Sam caught me in time then flew us both up to the third helicarrier.

"You know, you're a lot heavier than you look," he commented.

I shrugged, "I had a big breakfast." Suddenly I was kicked off the side of the carrier. I slid down the side till I found something to hold onto. I pulled myself up and started for the room with the chips.

"Cap? Cap, come in. Are you okay?" Sam asked.

"Yeah," I replied, "I'm here. I'm still on the Helicarrier. Where are you?"

"I'm grounded, the suit's down. Sorry, Cap."

"Don't worry, I got it." I made my way into the room and was walking across a catwalk when I found Steve blocking my way. Well, shit.

"People are gonna die, Steve," I told him, "I can't let that happen." He didn't respond only stared coldly at me. "Please don't make me do this." I sighed as I realized he wasn't going to back down. I threw the shield at him and he shot at me. At some point during the fight I had managed to get the targeting system up, but the chip had fallen. I slid down to get the chip. Steve followed me. We ended up in hand to hand again. He pulled a knife and stuck it in my right shoulder. Son of a bitch. Steve had grabbed the chip, I pulled the knife out and tackled him. I pulled his right arm back until the shoulder popped out. I then was able to get him into a chokehold. "Drop it! Drop it!" As he passed out he dropped the chip. I grabbed it and made my way back up to the system.

"One minute," Hill told me. A shot rang out and a bullet pierced through my thigh. Shit. I managed to get up to the system.

"Thirty seconds, Cap!"

"Stand by." I pulled the one chip and went to put the other one in but another shot rang out and went right through my stomach. I dropped to my knees. I reached up and put the chip in, in the last second. "Charlie locked," I choked out.

"Okay," Hill said, "Cap, get out of there."

"Fire now," I told her. There was no way in hell I was getting out of this.

"But, Kennedy..."

"Do it! Do it now!"

The Helicarrier started exploding around me. I managed to push myself up. I noticed Steve stuck under a fallen beam. I sighed and jumped down to help him. I lifted the beam up so he could crawl out. When he was out I dropped the beam and turned to face him.

"You know me," I said.

"No, I don't!" he snapped as he shoved me back.

"Stevie, you've known me your whole life."

Steve lashed out and punched me in the face, but I wasn't going to fight back. I pushed myself up. "Your name is Steven Grant Rogers."

"Shut up!" he yelled and punched me again which cause me to lose my balance.

I pushed myself up, faced him, brushed the hair out of my face, and dropped the shield, "I'm not gonna fight you. You're my husband."

Steve growled and tackled me, "You're my mission." He punched me in the face repeatedly with his metal arm, "You're. My. Mission."

"Then finish it," I choked out, "Cause I'm with you to the end of the line."

Everything below me gave out as something came crashing down. I hit the water. I was going to drown. Someone grabbed me and pulled me out though. The last thing I remember was someone slipping something onto my finger.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed. There was music playing in the background. I glanced around and found Sam in a chair to my left.

"On your left," I breathed.

He looked over at me and smirked.