"We are dead." Fighter jets are firing on the convent where Captain America and a squad of crooked American soldiers are holed up. The attack is to eliminate all witnesses to a drug deal gone wrong. Lieutenant David is the first to die: hurled backward by the blast he is decapitated by Cap’s shield which he holds in his hands. Sgt. Solo is surprised by a nun, screaming in pain; in a panic he shoots her down. He picks up the shield and heads out, hoping to find Cap’s contact at the distant airfield. Cap, with the body of the unconscious Pvt. Sore in his arms, questions his decision to leave. Angered, Solo accuses Captain America of not understanding the fears of the ordinary non-heroic types. Cap responds that this only fear is of doing wrong and assures him that the situation has never been easy. Back in the War, he witnessed several atrocities committed by Americans and made the choice not to give in to evil: "What others do…is no excuse." Solo wants to tell him they are dead, that what they do doesn’t matter but he knows Cap will tell him it’s no excuse.
In the convent, Cap lays plans to get the soldiers and the children to safety but the Americans refuse. The only thing awaiting them back home is a court-martial. Instead they choose to stay and face the cocaine mob. The next morning, Cap leads the nuns and children toward the distant airfield while the soldiers prepare for the confrontation. In a heavy rain, the drugs lords arrive, killers wearing skeleton costumes and ready for the dance of death. Sore dons Captain America’s mask as a tribute to his great-grandfather (see previous issue) and kicks the leader in the face. The thug orders him taken down with machetes. Sore fights for as long as he can but he is soon overwhelmed by the numbers. Solo and Hulk pick up machetes and assure the drug lords the children are safe. The leaders responds that is wasn’t about the children, the cocaine or the money—it is about the dance of death. Solo understands now: "We are dead but we do not run anymore. We dance."