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[right][b]THE TRISKELION
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
LOCAL TIME 2052 (EST)[/b][/right]

Captain Rogers had been in Team 7's training room, rehabbing his injuries, when the first tremors hit. Dropping the weight with a pained grunt, Steve grabbed a towel and headed topside. Upon emerging on the Triskelion's ground floor, he found a scene that could only be described as controlled chaos. SHIELD agents marched this way and that, barking orders to secure unstable equipment and to check the status of the containment cells. Every few minutes, another major shockwave hit, causing the structure to tremble. Luckily, it had been designed to withstand far worse. Captain Rogers moved with purpose, hardly paying mind to the agents brushing past him, as he searched for the man in charge.

Despite the commotion, it didn't take long to find Director Fury. Indeed, the Colonel was surrounded by many such agents who, like Rogers, were looking for answers. To Fury's credit, he was cool and collected. He considered each question in turn, answering rapidly and with conviction. In a situation normally absent of control, Nick Fury was a bastion of it. Meeting Rogers' eyes, the Director completed his delegations and urged all the agents back to their stations at once. They say that attitude reflects leadership, and this was never more apparent than watching SHIELD handle a crisis under Fury.

When Fury was finally within earshot, Rogers asked the obvious question. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0072bc]Are we dealing with a naturally occurring quake?[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

Fury shot Rogers a look, a look which gave its answer in the casual dismissal of the question. A look which said, [i]"If you have to ask, you already know."[/i] The Director turned his gaze ahead, saying, [b][color=black]"Five distinct signatures, spread through the district. Reports of hostiles on the ground. A smaller force than you faced in Qurac, but large enough to overwhelm the metropolitan police, particularly with all the chaos from the quakes. The National Guard's been called, but D.C.'ll be a crater before they can get it under control."[/color][/b]

[b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]What about us?[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=black]"I've already dispatched Prince to secure the President. Wilson's running reconnaissance, helping us organize strikes against whatever they're using to cause this. This tech's [i]way[/i] beyond anything the Quracis should've had in development,"[/color][/b] Fury scowled.

Rogers furrowed his brow. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]Where do you need me?[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

The Director shook his head. [b][color=black]"Can't do it. You're not even medically cleared, much less having your mind right. It'd be suicide to send you out tonight."[/color][/b]

Rogers stepped in front of the Director, putting a hand on his chest. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]You said it yourself, Nick: I deserve the chance to set things right. You want to stop me? Then you're gonna have to call Diana back and have her restrain me, because nothing less is going to keep me sidelined.[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=black]"Don't think I wouldn't,"[/color][/b] Fury threatened hollowly. Sighing, he relented. On top of everything else tonight, he couldn't afford to deal with the headache that would be trying to keep Rogers out of the field. Besides, if ever there were an "all hands on deck" situation, [i]this[/i] was it. [b][color=black]"You want to prove you've still got it? Strongest signal's coming from the National Mall. Good bet you'll find al-Rahman there."[/color][/b]

Rogers softened his stance. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]Thank you, Nick.[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=black]"Thank me by taking down the sonuvabitch,"[/color][/b] the Colonel sneered. Nodding, Captain Rogers took off to collect his gear until Fury called out after him. [b][color=black]"And Steve?"[/color][/b] Once Rogers turned, Fury looked at him with a dark and determined expression. In a low tone, he said, [b][color=black]"Bring him in alive. He and I are due for a long chat."[/color][/b]

[right][b]NATIONAL MALL
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
LOCAL TIME 2113 (EST)[/b][/right]

When the earthquakes began, the Mall erupted in a panic. The assembled tourists, like a startled herd, scattered to the wind. Very few saw or even took note of the peculiarly-dressed man standing beneath the Washington Monument wielding some kind of energy weapon. It wasn't until later -- when the gunshots began -- that they came to the horrifying realization that tonight was [i]not[/i] a natural disaster, but instead the act of a violent and hostile force. In light of this new information, those who could not escape the area had been forced to take shelter inside the Lincoln Memorial. There, held at gunpoint by these terrorists, they waited and prayed for salvation.

Abdul al-Rahman stood at the top of the steps, looking out over the chaos he had created. It was poetic. Thanks to the Americans, he had watched his country burn; now, they would watch theirs. This night would only be the beginning. Washington was the shot across the bow, the statement of the Liberators' intent. They would not rest until [i]all[/i] who had wronged Qurac had been brought to swift justice. They would reclaim what had been stolen. And they would rebuild, better and stronger than ever before. Never again would Qurac be ignored or stepped upon. Behind the Colonel's leadership, they would become a superpower.

Though, not if Steve Rogers had anything to say about it.

The Colonel noticed the glint of metal at the last possible moment. Were it not for the superhuman reflexes afforded to him by his new abilities, he would not have been able to leap out of the path of the approaching shield in time. It whistled underneath him, deflecting off of a crumbling column and returning to its owner, who was now charging up the steps. Captain America entered the fray with a haymaker that the Colonel effortlessly redirected. As the original Super-Soldier skidded past, Colonel al-Rahman drove his heel into the small of Rogers' back, sending him sprawling across the marble staircase. Spinning on the ball of his foot, the Colonel looked down at his adversary and said, [color=9e0b0f][b]"I commend your resiliency. Most men would think better than to challenge me again after so convincing a defeat."[/b][/color]

Rogers scrambled to his feet, although his opponent made no move to attack him yet. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]I think you'll find I'm not like 'most' men,[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] he answered through gritted teeth. He lifted his shield and assumed a defensive stance. Even such an innocuous gesture sent waves of searing pain through his injured shoulder. Each time he flexed it, the pain was renewed. He knew that it would hurt like hell the first time it got hit. It didn't matter. All that mattered was stopping this madness.

For his part, the Colonel showed no signs of being threatened at all. Though he held his weapon, his posture was relaxed, almost indifferent. He knew that even at his healthiest, Rogers wouldn't be able to close the distance between them without the Colonel having a chance to react. He had nothing to fear from the American. "What do you think of our machines?" al-Rahman asked. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Vibranium-powered resonance generators. Nothing authentic, of course. You and your people saw to that. But synthetic vibranium provides more than enough power for our purposes."[/b][/color]

[b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]And what purposes are those?[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] Captain America circled slowly, stepping down until he was level with al-Rahman. They stood at the width of the staircase from each other.

The Colonel laughed joylessly. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Isn't it clear?"[/b][/color] He stared daggers at Rogers. [color=9e0b0f][b]"Settling old debts."[/b][/color]

Cap sneered. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]By killing innocents?[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] He lunged, but the Colonel was waiting for it. The Quraci caught Captain America's wrist and pulled so hard that he nearly dislocated Cap's good shoulder. Stumbling forward, Cap caught a headbutt right on the nose. He could tell by the immediate burst of pain and the warm, wet sensation down his face that the nose was broken. The Colonel pushed him away dismissively.

[color=9e0b0f][b]"No one here is innocent,"[/b][/color] al-Rahman reasoned. [color=9e0b0f][b]"At [i]best[/i], they are indifferent to a regime that enacts countless horrors upon the world. At worst? They [i]celebrate[/i] it."[/b][/color] He loomed over Captain America, seemingly growing larger the angrier he became. [color=9e0b0f][b]"All they've known is power. And they believe that because they hold this power, the world is theirs to do with as they please."[/b][/color] He raised his weapon, pointing it at Cap's chest. [color=9e0b0f][b]"I am here on behalf of the world to show them that [i]we[/i] have power, too."[/b][/color]

Another shockwave went out. Both combatants were knocked off-kilter by it, but the Colonel redirected his momentum into an attack before Captain America could find his center. The blunt tip of the Colonel's staff came crashing down on Cap's hastily raised shield; immediately, he felt as though he could pass out on the spot. Stars surrounded his vision as the Colonel seized the opening and planted a standing kick into Rogers' center of mass. He fell backwards, nearly losing his shield altogether. The blood from his nose was running down into his beard. The Colonel stepped over his rival's body.

Like so many times before, Captain America was down but not out. From his back, he delivered a hard kick to the inside of the Colonel's knee. As it buckled, Cap leapt up and wrapped an arm around al-Rahman's neck. The two went tumbling down the Memorial staircase, landing hard on the walkway below. The Colonel lost his weapon. Both hurried to recover before the other. As the Colonel bent down to retrieve his staff, he caught a knee to the rib cage from Captain America. Cap followed up the hit by driving both elbows into the Colonel's back. His bad arm was throbbing, but he threw everything he had into the hit. The Colonel hit the floor at Cap's feet.

With the toe of his boot, Captain America rolled the Colonel onto his back. As he did so, however, the Quraci reached for his weapon and jabbed it into the American's calf. Cap let out an inhuman howl before being grabbed by the belt and thrown headlong into the Reflecting Pool. He crashed through the knee-high water, disturbing the Pool's placid surface. By the time Cap got his bearings and turned around, he found that the Colonel had already charged in after him. A sharp jab sent Rogers splashing back towards the deeper water at the center of the pool. He felt hands around his throat as al-Rahman struggled to hold him under.

Cap brought up his shield arm and bashed his adversary in the side. It moved him little, but it at least softened the Colonel's grip enough to give Rogers a fighting chance. He repeated the motion, each time losing a little steam yet each time weakening the Quraci's resolve. Finally, with the last swing that Cap could muster, he managed to knock the Colonel to the side and free himself. Surfacing immediately, Captain America gulped down air and struggled to his feet. He saw the Colonel, also rising, and charged. With a tackle that would've made a linebacker proud, Captain America drove his opponent deeper into the Pool. There, the waist-high water would negate the Colonel's quickness at least.

Overheard, a helicopter circled, its lone spotlight dancing to keep the two combatants in view. As the Colonel pushed Captain America away, he looked up at it, remarking, [color=9e0b0f][b]"No more hiding, Captain. The world will know that the stories about you are true. And your country will answer for them."[/b][/color]

[b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]As we should. But it's you who'll be answering for tonight,[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] Rogers retorted as he swung in again. He knew he could not afford a protracted fight. Given enough time, the Colonel's superior stamina would win out, particularly given the injuries Rogers sustained in their last encounter. If he was going to win this fight, Captain America would have to rely on one thing: blunt force trauma. He would need to hit harder than perhaps he ever had; and he would have to do it while barely being able to lift his arm.

The Colonel sensed it, too. Finding himself at a disadvantage, slow and sluggish as he was in the water, he went defensive. He sought to absorb or altogether avoid as much punishment as Captain Rogers was trying to dish out. Cap noticed him favoring his ribs, so that's where he focused his attention. His shield strikes were getting weaker, but placed correctly, they could still have devastating effect. The Colonel moved to catch the shield, so Captain America slipped out of it and delivered a splashing roundhouse kick. The Colonel and the shield took a plunge.

That's when Captain America heard the clicks. Looking up, he saw that the Liberators had surrounded the Reflecting Pool. Each of them had a rifle trained on the now-defenseless Captain Rogers. His earpiece buzzed with a welcome voice. [color=9e0b0f]"Hey, Cap. Now would be a good time to duck."[/color]

Doing as he was told, Captain America dropped towards the water. As he did, he caught sight of the Falcon making a low approach angle. Like an A-10 Warthog on a strafing run, Falcon carved his way down the line, blasting the Liberators and whizzing by. Whoever was still standing afterwards was now far more concerned with the airborne intruder. As they opened fire, Cap looked down to see the Colonel charging him.

The two traded blows, but it was clear that the Colonel had found a second wind. For each punch Captain America landed, Colonel al-Rahman got in two. Rogers' throbbing left arm was becoming a liability, leaving him open on that side. The Colonel pressed the advantage, delivering right hook after right hook. Cap's jaw rattled almost in tune with the rhythmic shockwaves coming from the resonance generators. He needed his shield, but it was somewhere three feet deep behind the Colonel. An attempt to swap positions was met with a violent shove from al-Rahman as he continued his assault.

[color=9e0b0f]"Heads up!"[/color] Falcon called out. He swooshed past, dropping the Colonel's forgotten weapon from above.

Captain America managed to gain some separation from his opponent and catch the falling staff. It hummed in his hands. Slashing forward, he missed al-Rahman by inches. A follow-up strike got the Colonel across the thigh. The surface of the Reflecting Pool hissed as the heated tip of the weapon passed through the water. The third attack al-Rahman anticipated, and he caught the center of the staff between Cap's hands. The two struggled for control until finally, Cap pulled away with a twist. As he did so, he heard the Colonel cry out in agony. The Reflecting Pool splashed as everything from al-Rahman's left elbow down broke the surface. The Colonel stumbled back, holding the stump that was once his arm.

Cap brought the weapon to bear, holding its tip beneath the Colonel's chin. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]Yield.[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] The Colonel made a desperate swipe at the staff, so Captain Rogers rewarded his foolishness by cracking him in the face with the handle. Blood streamed from [i]his[/i] nose now, too. Rogers repeated himself, [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]Yield.[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b]

[color=9e0b0f][b]"Kill me,"[/b][/color] al-Rahman spat. [color=9e0b0f][b]"What's one more dead Arab boy to you?"[/b][/color]

Rogers powered down the weapon. [b][color=ed1c24]"[/color][color=0054a6]There's been enough death.[/color][color=ed1c24]"[/color][/b] He reached back and smashed the handle against the side of al-Rahman's skull. The Colonel fell unconscious as the shockwaves subsided.