Captain America races down a New York street, leaping through traffic, barely breaking stride as he foils a holdup. He arrives at a luxury apartment building and enters, puzzling new Nomad Jack Monroe, who had followed him. Jack is still questioning his fitness to be a hero when he spots a tiny flying spy device. Inside an apartment, Cap stands by the bedside to the dying Jeff Mace, WW2-era hero the Patriot and the third Captain America, whom he had met in the time-traveling adventure in ANNUAL #6. Having got what it was after, the spy gizmo departs and Nomad follows it. Nearby, at the secret lab of weapons designer Alex Gentry, the Porcupine, Gentry is offering to sell his spiky battle suits to the Secret Empire via viewscreen. The Empire agent is naturally skeptical so Gentry offers to demonstrate its effectiveness—by defeating Captain America. His spy-device returns followed by Nomad. The over-eager young hero is taken completely unawares by the goofy-looking villain’s abilities and he is easily defeated….
Later that evening, Steve Rogers and Bernie Rosenthal are settling down to a romantic moment when they are interrupted by friends Josh Cooper and Mike Farrel bearing pizza. Minutes later, a call comes for Steve from Jarvis, “It’s time” and Steve heads out as Cap for the hospital. He is intercepted by the Porcupine challenging him to a rooftop battle--and he hurls the unconscious Nomad at Cap. The Avenger breaks their fall then takes on the villain, distracted by his concern for his dying friend. Porcupine knocks Cap down with a laser-blast. Nomad is so enraged that he assaults the villain with everything he’s got before he goes down too. But it gave Cap time to recover and smash the villain though his only vulnerable part: his mask. Cap hastily explains that he needed the distraction Nomad provided—and it also got Jack to stop whining about himself….
Cap makes it to Jeff’s bedside and the old soldier dies clutching Cap’s hand.