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[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia[/I] - [I]Present Day, 12:31[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.03.1: Home of the Brave[/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4881697]Issue 1.02.6: Kings go Forth[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

Steve folded his arms as he stood next to the large hole in the ground, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket to keep inconspicuous. Almost everyone had slowly trickled away as the funeral ended. But Rogers stayed. He had served with the man in that coffin for a few years. It was hard to accept that his only ally from World War II had finally passed away himself. Rogers was so caught up in his own thoughts that he was surprised when another voice came from behind him. [color=orange]”You must be Steve? Steve Rogers?”[/color]

Rogers turned around, and standing before him was a man in a simple suit and tie. The man smiled, holding his hand out. If Steve hadn’t known any better, the man before him had the same smile as another one of his allies. The quizzical expression seemed to be too obvious. [color=orange]”Sam Wilson. I believe you fought alongside my grandfather, Isaiah”[/color] Sam extended his hand for a shake.

Steve smiled brightly as he met the handshake, with Sam clearly wincing in pain as the super soldier’s grip was a bit strong. [color=00aeef]”He was a brave soldier. It was an honor serving with him.”[/color]

[color=orange]”He was. I never got to meet him, but my father always told me stories about him. Told me stories of the Howling Commandos, a guy from New York who teamed up with a warrior woman and some space kid to take down the Nazis, and how my grandfather tried to live up to your legacy.”[/color]

Steve smiled at that, almost sighing as he did so. He never was one for attention or compliments, even after all this time. [color=00aeef]”We were all just serving our country.”[/color]

Sam gave a nod at that. [color=orange]”Amen to that. You know, you’re the reason I enlisted with the Air Force. Figured if some skinny kid from Brooklyn could be a hero, a kid from the streets of Harlem could make it.”[/color]

Rogers gave a smile, his hands moving to his hips as if about to give a lecture before he felt his phone begin vibrating. He raised up a finger as if to ask for a moment, and checked what everyone kept telling him was a smart phone. The caller ID showed that the call was from none other than Nick Fury himself. He sighed and raised the phone to his ear after waving goodbye to Wilson. [color=00aeef]”What is it, sir?”[/color]

[color=purple]”I need you back at base by dawn. I’m sending you and Agent Carter to London to deal with a situation.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]”What about a break, sir?”[/color]

[color=purple]”Whatever you and Agent Carter do on your free time, Captain Rogers, is none of my business.”[/color] The smug grin of the colonel was apparent even over a phone call. Before Steve could muster up a response, the line went dead.

[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Training Facilities, Triskellion, Washington D.C.[/I] - [I]Present Day, 12:00 Hrs[/I][/sub][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][/color]

Another thud, only barely muffled by the padded ground of this particular training area, was met with a collected sigh. Tony Masters stood over the soldier, offering a hand to help him back onto his feet. As always, his tone remained monotone and borderline condescending. [color=lightgray]”You need to keep your hands up and watch for holes in your defenses. You were fighting too aggressive. You owe ten sets.”[/color] The soldier sighed, and grumbled as he began walking away. Behavior that everyone knew at this point Masters wouldn’t accept. [color=lightgray]”What was that, Private?”[/color]

The agent stopped in his tracks, his shoulders hunched forward as if in an attempt to repress the anger. But he quickly spun on his heels and marched back towards Masters. [color=darkgray]”You think you’re hot shit, Masters? You seem real good at shooting your own people from fifty yards away or taking someone one on one. You think you can take us all on, Task Master?”[/color]

Tony turned his gaze towards the other SHIELD operatives that worked as Howling Commando auxiliary units. There were maybe fifteen present at the moment, and all of them were itching for a fight after five hours of nonstop drills and training. The inkling of a smile had upturned the corner of Master’s mouth. [color=lightgray]”I can guarantee all of you will be on the floor or running scared in less than ten minutes.”[/color]

A few agents looked at each other with looks of concern, but the private who instigated the situation simply smiled. [color=darkgray]”Alright boys, let’s-“[/color] Before he could even finish his call to action, Masters delivered a decisive kick to the private’s left knee, and a sickening crack could be heard as a fracture formed. The other agents immediately sprung into action, but they were no match. Whenever they tried to punch or kick or grab at their trainer, he seemed to either dodge it or immediately counter. There was no holding back on Masters’ part. When he struck, he aimed to shatter and incapacitate those around him with brutal efficiency. The fight was over in a minute and a half, and fifteen agents lied on the ground with serious fractures and some internal bleeding.

Masters sauntered slowly towards the wall, pressing a button on the intercom to signal for a medical team to arrive. He turned around to face the other agents, leaning his back against the wall. The same private who instigated the fight grunted as he forced himself up on one elbow to look at Masters. He practically spat out his words towards his trainer. [color=darkgray]”You’re nothing but a freak, Tony.”[/color]

With an unamused look, he simply watched as a few doctors arrived with gurneys to begin carrying out the agents. As the private was being led out, Tony stopped the doctors and finally responded. [color=lightgray]”I may be a freak, but I’m still your Task Master, private. Enjoy scrubbing toilets with a broken leg.”[/color][hr][right][color=00aeef]Next Chapter:[/color] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4890815]DownFall[/url][/right]