Synopsis
In the halls of the Capitol, Captain America fights for his life against the Serpent Squad led by Sin, the Red Skull’s daughter. He manages to gun down Sin and Viper, but Crossbones suddenly appears shooting him in the back. Protected by the bullet-proofing in the costume, Cap grapples with the huge assassin, stabbing him in the leg. Kane-Meyer soldiers spirit Senator Wright out of the building as Crossbones hurls Cap through a window—to be caught by Black Widow in her flying car. They return to the building to take the unconscious Crossbones, Viper, and Eel into custody…but Cobra has managed to escape with the critically wounded Sin. The news of a new Captain America amuses the Red Skull. Meanwhile, said new Cap—Bucky Barnes—addresses the rioters, attempting to quell the violence—and fails; he can fight but he lacks the gravitas of the Living Legend to be an effective leader. Manipulated security tapes show Wright being rescued from assassins by Kane-Meyer guards, while Tony Stark officially denies any knowledge of the new Captain America. As they ponder how they can locate and rescue Sharon Carter, Bucky and Natalia reminisce about their romance—which must be put on hold as his new fame will separate them. At the villains’ HQ, Sharon manages to overcome her conditioning and attempt an escape, for the sake of her unborn baby. As she searches Arnim Zola’s lab for a secret exit, she spots a large liquid-filled tank—and is shocked to see the body of Steve Rogers inside.