Chapter 18: Red Skull

HYDRA FACTORY- COMPOUND

Morita leads a group of P.O.W.'s toward the main gate. He hears something roaring up behind them. He looks and immediately shouted "DOWN!". He tackles a P.O.W. to the ground as they hear a zap sound. A blue blast just clears their heads, blowing away the main gate. Behind the cannon, Dernier and

Falsworth whoop politely while the P.O.W.'s swarm the gate.

HYDRA FACTORY - CATWALK

Steve and Bucky reach the catwalk only to find Schmidt on the other side. Dr. Zola waits behind him at the elevator.

"Captain America. How exciting." Schmidt smiles at him. "I'm a fan of your films."

Schmidt hands the titanium box to Dr. Zola. He and Steve slowly walk forward, studying each other.

"So the old man managed it after all. Not quite an improvement, but impressive." Then his smile turned creepy. "I remember his adopted daughter, very smart and beautiful. I wonder if I should pay them a visit some time."

Steve hits Schmidt in the jaw, sending him reeling.

"You better leave them alone." Steve warns, clearly agitated.

Schmidt straightens up, strangely pleased. And asked "Why should I?"

Schmidt swings, but Steve blocks it with his shield. Schmidt's fist leaves a dent in the steel. Steve gapes, surprised. When he looks up, Schmidt hammers him. Steve goes down. Schmidt looms over him.

Steve, stunned, remembered what Dr. Erskine said that night before the experiment. "Dr. Erskine said your experiment was a failure." Steve kicks up, driving his feet into Schmidt's jaw.

Schmidt tumbles to the floor. Dr. Zola scrambles to the catwalk controls. A gap appears between Schmidt and Steve as both sides retract. Schmidt shoots a withering look at Dr. Zola. The doctor pales.

When Schmidt turns back to Steve his face is askew. Red skin bulges from torn seams.

"A failure? Oh, no, Captain." He gets to his feet. "I was his greatest success." He pulls, peeling his face from the bone, revealing a red skull underneath. He grins, hideous. Steve stares in disbelief.

"You don't have one of those, do you?" Bucky gapes, then looks at Steve worriedly.

Red Skull tosses his mask away. Johann Schmidt's face wafts into the flames, staring at them all as it falls.

"You're a liar, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier. But in reality you're just afraid to admit we've left humanity behind." Red Skull preached. Another explosion rocks the floor below. "Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without the masquerade...without fear."

"Then how come you're running?" Steve scowls from the end of the catwalk, helpless.

Dr. Zola hands Red Skull back his titanium box. Then the two of them step into the elevator and disappear.

Steve pulls Bucky away as explosions rock the catwalk. They spot a gantry above.

HYDRA FACTORY - ROOF

Dr. Zola eyes Red Skull's exposed head, queasy. Finally, he looks away and notices the floor indicator.

"Sir? We're going to the roof?" Dr. Zola asked.

But Red Skull remains silent. The doors open, revealing a catwalk leading to a waiting triebflugel [1] built for one.

"But...what about me?" Dr. Zola asked, anxious.

Red Skull hands Dr. Zola a set of car keys and instructed "Not a scratch, Doctor." He then exits the elevator. Dr. Zola stares at the keys as the doors close.

HYDRA FACTORY - TOP GANTRY

Steve and Bucky reach the gantry. Bucky runs on. It creaks. Steve steps on and said to Bucky "Hurry."

Carefully, Bucky limps across the gantry. Rivets fall.

HYDRA FACTORY - WOODS

Morita leads the injured P.O.W.'s toward the woods. Just then, something roars overhead. He looks up at the triebflugel, its rotating engines whirling into a blur.

Inside the triebflugel, Red Skull glances out the cockpit. Below, his factory burns. He can just make out a car speeding down a lonely road.

Inside that car, files slide on the seat as Dr. Zola speeds away. His feet barely reaching the pedals.

HYDRA FACTORY - TOP GANTRY

Bucky jumps from the end of the gantry to the other side. Just then, another bomb explodes. The gantry collapses. Steve stands alone, trapped. Bucky looks around, frantic.

"There's got to be a rope or something—" Bucky tried looking for other ways for Steve to get across.

"JUST GET OUT!" Steve cut him off. The explosions come faster now.

"Not without you." Bucky shouted against the booming sounds.

The roof around Steve falls in. He eyes the impossible gap. "Aw, hell." He said under his breath.

He backs up, then races for the edge. Bucky's eyes go wide as Steve leaps, sailing over the blazing chaos. Just as the biggest bomb yet goes off.

U.S. CAMP - PHILLIPS' TENT

Colonel Phillips stares out his window, stoic. Then he started to dictate to a corporal "Senator Brandt, I regret to report that Captain Steven G. Rogers went missing behind enemy lines on the 3rd of last week." He looks down to read the rough draft on his notepad and continued "Aerial reconnaissance has proven unfruitful. As a result, I must declare Captain Rogers killed in action."

The corporal stops typing. Conel Phillips turns to see. Agent Carter standing in the door, red-eyed and tired.

"The last surveillance flight is back." Agent Carter reported. She enters and lays down aerial pictures of the disintegrated Hydra camp. "No sign of activity."

Colonel Phillips gazes at the photos. Then he looks to the corporal and said "Corporal. Why don't you go get a cup of coffee?" The corporal nods and leaves the room.

"I can't touch Stark. He's a civilian...and the Army's number one weapons contractor. You're neither." Colonel said gravely.

"You'll have my resignation in the morning." Agent Carter said, despondent.

"I can probably make it so that you'll avoid a court martial." Colonel Phillips seeing how she looks tried to comfort her.

"With respect, sir, I don't regret my actions. And I doubt Captain Rogers did, either." Agent Carter stubbornly defended.

"What makes you think I give a damn about your opinions?" Colonel Phillips replied. Agent Carter goes cold. Colonel Phillips steps forward and continue to say "I took a chance on you, Agent Carter. Now that boy and a lot of other men are dead, because you had a crush." He was beyond disappointed.

"It wasn't that." Agent Carter defended and said quietly "I had faith."

"Well, I hope that's a great comfort to you when they shut this division down." Colonel Phillips looked at her in the eyes.

Then a commotion starts to build outside.

"What the hell's going on out there?" The Colonel asked. Soldiers were running by his window. He and Agent Carter move closer to look. They step outside to see dozens of soldiers hurrying toward the camp entrance.

The soldiers part, revealing Steve and Bucky walking up the road, leading a squad of P.O.W.'s. Ragtag vehicles follow, carrying the rest. Steve's uniform hangs filthy and torn. His shield is battered and bent. But his head is high. G.I.'s cheer, more come running.

Hodge steps out of the barracks, drying his hair. He stops, stunned. "Rogers?"

Amazed, Colonel Phillips looks to Agent Carter, who wipes away tears. The stunned crowd parts. Steve salutes Colonel Phillips.

"Colonel, some of these men need medical attention." Steve reported.

Colonel Phillips looks at the gaunt faces of the men. He nods. Medics rush in to help the P.O.W.'s.

Steve continue to say "I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action."

Colonel Phillips looks at Steve's battered, burned shield and replied tentatively "That won't be necessary."

"Sir, I—" Steve was cut offed.

"Just how many orders do you plan on disobeying, Captain?" Colonel Phillips said, irritated. He and Steve lock eyes.

Steve smiles and replied "Yes, sir."

Colonel Phillips turns to Agent Carter, smiling wryly. "Faith, huh?" He walks away as Steve turns to Agent Carter.

She stops herself from hugging him. "You're late."

Steve pulls out the Stark transponder. It's shot to pieces. "Sorry, couldn't call my ride."

Agent Carter stared at Steve for a long, lingering moment which made Steve felt awkward.

Fortunately, soldiers including those who booed him at the USO show, crowd around him, slapping Steve on the back. They wave his comic book, yelling for Captain America. Flashbulbs pop. Steve smiles despite himself, finally accepted.

A pretty nurse approaches Bucky and asked "Where do you hurt, soldier?" A slow smile creeps across his face.

Note:

[1] a German aircraft made in the 1940's; you can google it for more information