Five years ago, communist General Alexander Lukin sold secret weapons to the Red Skull, who showed special interest in a man inside a capsule who, according to Lukin, took part in missions against the U.S. during the cold war. Lukin offered to trade the man for the Cosmic Cube, but the Red Skull refused the offer.
Back in the present day, SHIELD agent Sharon Carter is the new liaison for Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America. They were a couple in the past. She worries about Rogers’ recent more violent than usual behavior. The previous week, Cap fought terrorists who tried bombing Coney Island. He killed two of them, and one is in a comma.
Rogers blames his recent behavior on the Red Skull’s recent escape from prison. The terrorists belonged to a defunct AIM branch, but their motive is still unknown.
Roger watches Manhattan from his secret hide out (provided by SHIELD) while wondering where the Red Skull might be. Well, he is in New York, watching the city through the window of his flat. He knows where Cap is, but he is planning a slow death for his nemesis. The villain answers his phone; it’s Lukin, asking for the Cosmic Cube. The Red Skull has it but, again, refuses to give it away. Suddenly, the Red Skull gets fatally shot in the chest. The sniper informs Lukin what has happened and goes to pick up the Cosmic Cube.
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