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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones. or 500 Collections
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Homelander watched Steve's disappearing figure and, to the camera, put on a look of boundless pity.
"Did you all see that?"
"This is the cruelty of war—it turns friends into foes and brothers into enemies."
"But trust Vought, trust us."
"We will bring the lost lamb home."
"Ashley!" Homelander suddenly remembered something and, turning, shouted at Ashley who was still directing the scene.
"Get a drone to tail me, then send out the press release!"
"Say… Captain America, with Vought's help, is redeeming a World War II veteran who's lost his way."
"The headline has to be sentimental! Tear-jerking! It must show that… brotherhood spanning a century!"
"Make every Housewife in the U.S. cry if you can!"
"Got it?!"
"Got it, Boss!" Ashley shouted back. …Potomac River, downstream Dam.
This was the end of the hydro-station; torrents roared over the Dam, deafening.
Bucky Barnes stopped.
There was no way forward.
Ahead lay a drop of dozens of meters and churning rapids.
He turned; his metal arm lifted slightly, eyes glinting with lethal frost.
"Bucky!!"
Steve caught up.
He threw away the shield, pulled off the helmet, revealing a face full of pleading and grief.
"Bucky… it's me."
"Look at me! I'm Steve!"
"You know me."
Bucky looked at Steve.
Deep in his mind, a fog seemed to loosen.
That name… Steve.
And a skinny figure… an alley in Brooklyn… "No!!"
Bucky clutched his head in agony; the metal arm smashed the railing, warping the iron.
"I don't know you!!"
He roared and charged Steve.
Steve spread his arms, chest exposed defenselessly to Bucky.
"I won't fight you."
"Because… you're my friend."
"You are my mission!"
But what answered Steve were the red-star metal fist's heavy blows, until he collapsed.
"You are my mission!"
Bucky drew a dagger, its tip aimed at Steve, repeating the words again and again.
"Then finish it."
Steve's weak voice replied.
"Shlk!"
The blade sank into Steve's shoulder.
Bucky's hand trembled.
Seeing the blood, a fragment of memory stirred in him.
"Steve…"
Bucky murmured.
The dagger clanged to the ground.
"You…" clarity returned to Bucky's eyes, "you're… Steve?"
"It's me, Bucky." Steve smiled through tears, "I'm here."
"I'll walk with you… to the end."
At this touching moment—
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
A burst of applause rang out from above.
The two jerked their heads up.
Homelander hovered over the Dam, a tub of Popcorn tucked under one arm, munching contentedly.
Behind him, several drones filmed the scene from every angle.
"Oh! Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous!"
He chewed and commented, "Those lines, that emotional explosion—you have to license me to cut this into my new movie!"
Especially 'I'll walk with you to the end'… so sappy, but I love it."
Homelander landed, stepping between them.
"All right, brothers reunited—worthy of celebration. I'll throw a cocktail party at the Base tonight."
He looked at Bucky, satisfied.
"Welcome back, Sergeant Barnes."
"Allow me to introduce myself—I'm your new boss, Homelander."
Homelander smiled like a devil.
Bucky stared blankly at the oppressive blond man, then at Steve.
Steve gave a helpless, bitter smile.
"Ignore him, Bucky. He's always like this."
"But… he's one of us."
"Let's go home."
Sunset.
Homelander watched the two supporting each other as they walked away, feeling great… Triskelion Building.
Nick Fury, in plain maintenance coveralls and a pulled-down cap, pushed a trolley loaded with cleaning gear.
Clint Barton crouched inside a cramped Ventilation Duct like a crawling mouse.
"Turn left, boss. There's a camera ahead; I can jam it for three seconds," Barton's voice came through the earpiece.
"Copy."
Fury ducked, passing beneath the camera.
His target: the central Communications Hub midway up the building.
It was S.H.I.E.L.D.'s throat and tongue.
"Stop."
Two guards blocked Fury.
"That area's off-limits. Where's your Badge?"
Fury halted and slowly looked up.
He removed the cap, revealing the iconic eyepatch.
The guards froze.
"Fury… Director?"
"Good, someone still remembers." Fury's tone was icy.
The two exchanged glances and reached for their guns—orders were: see Nick Fury, shoot on sight.
"I wouldn't." Fury pointed overhead.
"Whiz! Whiz!"
Two Shock Arrows shot from the vent, burying into their shoulders with precision.
The guards convulsed and collapsed.
Fury stepped over them and shoved open the hub door.
Inside, several techs nearly spilled coffee on their keyboards at the sight of him.
"Nobody move." Fury swept a pistol left and right, "I'd like to borrow the PA System—any objections?"
No one dared object.
Three minutes later.
Every Speaker in the Triskelion crackled with that familiar, commanding voice.
"This is Nick Fury."
At once the entire building fell silent.
Agents set down spoons; soldiers froze mid-drill; even Pierce, sipping wine in his office, felt his hand tremble.
"I know what you've been told."
Fury's voice echoed along every corridor.
"Some say I'm a traitor, say I'm HYDRA. Fine—great story."
"But now let me tell you another."
"Alexander Pierce—he's HYDRA."
"Some of your colleagues, some of your officers—they're HYDRA too."
"They've nested among us for decades, parasites feeding on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s blood."
"Today they launch Insight. Not to protect the World, but to aim guns at anyone who opposes them."
"Once those three helicarriers rise, millions will die."
In the hub, Fury watched shocked, uncertain Agents on the monitors and adjusted his tone.
"I don't need you to believe me—I just need you to believe your eyes."
"Look at those so-called orders; think about the people slated for erasure."
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"If you remember the oath you took, if you remember who we're meant to protect."
"Then pick up your weapons."
"Even if only one of us is left, we will fight for the World's future!"
This… is the final order."