Many in the crowd at the Riverside Park July Fourth celebration witnessed Captain America’s fiery plunge into the Potomac and called the authorities. The terrorists rushed down to the riverbank to search for the hero’s body but Cap surprises them and launches into them, fists and shield in action. An enemy fires at Cap killing his own comrades; he lectures Cap on the inevitable victory of his cause—then mysteriously falls dead, clutching a CATtag. Nick Fury and backup arrive; Cap asks about the CATtags: did the tag kill the terrorist, when he seemed to think it would make him immortal? Fury defends the technology; Cap warns the spymaster about the dangers of depending on technology.
In flight to Dresden, Steve is seated next to a young German woman who recognizes him. Over a game of chess, she questions whether America knows why it is fighting; Steve responds that, in the wake of 9/11, he is fighting to prevent World War III and the massive civilian casualties that would accompany it.
Arriving at Dresden, Steve recalls the firebombing of the city on February 13-14, 1945, a pre-echo of 9/11. He enters the Government building –and realizes the place should not be empty. He manages to whip his shield out of his pack before an explosion collapses the structure….