Agent Sakuara

As days pass by, the theaters where Steve performs gets bigger.

BUFFALO

Steve poses for a photo with a crying baby. After the flash, Senator Brandt's aide hands him another baby. A sign reads, "TAKE A SNAP WITH CAP!". Another flash. Now Senator Brandt elbows his way in, throwing his arm around Steve, grinning at the camera.

MILWAUKEE

Steve stands in the center of the stage as dancing girls circle him, waving tiny flags.

In a black & white footage: Steve marches with the troops on a war torn battlefield but in reality he's marching on a treadmill on a movie set. The word "HOLLYWOOD" spirals up.

KANSAS CITY

On stage, Steve takes to the mic confident.

"We all know this isn't about having a swell afternoon. This is about winning the war." Steve opened up.

Suddenly, a kid stands up in his seat. Panicked, he points at "HITLER" creeping from the wings. Steve doesn't notice.

"But we can't do it without bullets and bandages. Without tanks and tents. That's where you come in." Steve continues his speech.

More kids stand now, shouting "Look out!" and "Behind you!"

"Each bond you buy protects someone you love. So our boys will be armed and ready." Steve advertised. Just then, "HITLER" rushes to him.

"And so the Germans will think twice before trying to get the drop on us" Steve spins and fake socks "HITLER" on the jaw. The fuhrer goes down, the audience goes wild. Steve looks out at the adoring fans, soaking it all in.

A stack of Captain America No. 1'S, featuring Cap socking "HITLER", thumps down at the newsstand. Kids clamor for a copy.

PHILADELPHIA

In a lobby, kids yell for Steve's autograph. Steve, in costume but with cowl down, hands his shield to Senator Brandt's aide. The aide sags under the weight of the heavy metal slab.

"Hey, Cap, my brother says you took out four German tanks all by yourself." a little kid said to Steve.

"Sorry, kid. Tell your brother he's wrong..." Steve started to reply. The kid sags, disappointed. Steve grins and continue saying "It was eight German tanks." The kids cheer.

A movie magazine gets shoved in Steve's face. Its cover features him: "WHO'S CAP KISSING NOW?". A smaller photo shows a lonely Howard Stark, "HAS HOWARD LOST HIS PLAYBOY CROWN?". Steve looks up to see a beautiful blonde holding a pen. She smiles. So does he.

CHICAGO

Captain America battles on a movie screen. Steve watches from the crowd. He glances around at the rapt faces.

NEW YORK CITY

At Radio City Music Hall, three chorus girls sing their hearts out, wearing blue helmets that spell out "U-S-A." while sitting on a motorcycle and Steve holding that motorcycle over his head. They are on a wide stage with a lavish production number, the grand finale.

"How many of you are ready to help me sock Old Adolf on the jaw?" Steve asks his audience.

STEVE'S APARTMENT

After months of touring America, Steve went home to personally tell the father-daughter duo about the news of him flying to Italy. He wanted to see Yumhee before he go. They have been exchanging letters but it wasn't enough for him anymore. He misses Yumhee more each passing day.

Dr. Erskine continued his work on the serum, comparing the results of Steve's and Yumhee's experiments, looking for a way to match the serum to anyone.

Yumhee has been adapting very well. With a use of a retractable staff and the super soldier serum, she is now able to walk on her on without any assistance. She can't use her voice now so she also use her staff for communication. But when she goes out for like buying groceries, she brings writing materials with her. Not all people knows Morse code.

It's already kind of late when Steve arrived at their apartment. He goes straight to the bedroom he shared with Yumhee. When he opened the door, Yumhee bolted right up, on guard while holding a gun.

"Hey, hey it's alright. It's me, Steve. Sorry to disturb your sleep." Steve immediately informed her. Yumhee returns the gun to the side table and stretches her arms, asking for a hug. Steve walked to her and hugged her tight, relaxing when he smelled her unique fruity scent.

"I missed you...so much" Yumhee whispered to his ear.

"Me too. I've been thinking about you everyday." Steve breaks the hug and kissed her hungrily. He lifts her up and lay her on the bed, still kissing her.

"Yumhee...they're sending me to Italy." Steve said when they parted.

"Can I come with you, please?" Yumhee pleadingly asked.

"Yumhee..." Steve was conflicted.

"Please Steve...we haven't been together like this in months. And now you're leaving again, near the battlefield this time." Yumhee was anxious and afraid of the possibility of losing Steve.

"Yumhee...I can't. No. I don't want you to come. It might be dangerous. I can't lose you. I almost lost you once, my heart can't take that again. Yumhee..." Steve sighs and whispered "I love you...I love you so much."

Yumhee was beyond surprised. This is the first time Steve admitted that he loves her. They've been together for months but they haven't really spent that much time together. Hearing those words from him, she felt like something was lifted off from her. She felt light and happy. "I love you too Steve...so much." Yumhee almost cried from happiness.

Steve kissed her again, more passionate this time. Yumhee's hands on his arms. Steve started kissing lower, her jaw, her neck, her collarbone. But he stopped there. "Steve?" Yumhee asked, confused.

"Yumhee...can I have you? All of you?" Steve wanted their first time to be special but with him leaving for Italy without any guarantee when he'll be returning or if he can even return alive. He feels the urgency of being one with Yumhee. If this is the last time he'll see her, he wants to express how much he loves her. He wants to cherish her and adore every part of her body. He wants her to remember him always.

"I've always been yours Steve. All of me." Yumhee initiated the kiss this time, wanting to reassure Steve.

That night, they spent it together on the bed. After hours of worshipping each other's body, they slept peacefully while holding each other.

ITALY - FIVE MILES FROM THE FRONT. OCTOBER 1943.

At a U.S. camp, on a makeshift stage, Steve stands alone on a stage, confident. But instead of applause, he receives dead silence. Hundreds of battle-hardened GI's stare at the man in the red, white and blue pajamas.

"Okay...I'm going to need a volunteer." Steve nervously started.

"I already volunteered. How do you think I got here." One of the GI's shouted. The crowd laughs. Steve stiffens.

"Bring the girls back!" Another one of the audience shouted.

"I think they only know the one song, but...I'll...see what I can do..." Steve replied.

"You do that, sweetheart!" the same man shouted again.

In the crowd, Hodge nudges the GI next to him and asked "Where do they get these guys?" The guy next to him shrugs. Then they started to boo. The rest of the crowd joins in. Steve looks bewildered, trying to keep order.

"Hey, guys, we're all on the same side—" Steve was cut off when another heckler shouted "Hey Captain, sign this for me!" The guy puts down his pants and flashed his b.u.t.t to him. The GI's laugh. Somebody throws a tomato. Steve has to block it with his shield. As the chant "Bring back the girls" becomes a roar. Steve storms out.

As rain falls, Steve, in an overcoat, sits on the edge of the stage. He sketches a chimp dressed as Cap while riding a unicycle.

"That was quite a performance." Agent Carter greets.

Steve turns to see Agent Peggy Carter. He stands, surprised.

"Yeah, I...had to improvise a bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more...twelve." Steve replied, a little embarrassed.

"I understand you're "America's New Hope."" Agent Carter teased.

Steve sees his Cap suit is exposed. He shuts his coat and sits.

"People buy bonds, bonds buy bullets, bullets kill Nazis. Sales rise ten percent in every state I visit." Steve said without any emotion.

"Is that Senator Brandt I hear?" Agent Carter teased again.

"Hey, Phillips was going to stick me in a lab. At least Brandt got me here." Steve defended.

"And are those your only options?" Agent Carter eyes his sketch. "Lab rat or a dancing monkey? You know you're meant for more than this." Agent Carter said seriously.

Steve takes this in. Then finally he said "It's just, you get enough people telling you you're a hero, after years of them telling you you're nothing." Then he paused for a second and sighs. "All I dreamed about was coming overseas, being on the front lines, serving my country. I finally get everything I wanted...and I'm wearing tights."

Steve looks up, seeing a platoon of tired wounded soldiers. An ambulance rolls up to the hospital tent. Corpsmen unload the wounded on stretchers.

"Looks like they've been through hell." Steve observed.

"These men more than most." Agent Carter replied.

Steve eyes her, understanding. "Hydra?"

"Not officially." Agent Carter replied.

"Back home, that's a yes." Steve said.

She considers protocol but leans near him instead and said "Schmidt was moving a force through Azzano. Two hundred men went up against them, less than fifty came back. Your audience contained all that's left of the 107th. The rest were killed or captured."

"The 107th?" Steve was shocked.

"Yes, what?" Agent Carter asked, confused.

Steve stands pulling her up as well. "Come on."

U.S. CAMP - COLONEL PHILLIPS' TENT. LATE AFTERNOON.

A Corporal types. At a desk across the tent, Colonel Phillips signs a stack of letters. Just then, Steve barrels in, Agent Carter behind.

"Well, if it isn't "the starspangled man with the plan." What is your plan exactly?" Colonel Phillips sarcastically said.

"Azzano. I want to see the casualty list." Steve said seriously.

Colonel Phillips points to the rank insignia on his collar and said irritated "You don't get to give me orders, "Captain.""

"I don't need the whole list. Just one name. Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th." Steve tried again.

Colonel Phillips looks at Agent Carter "You and I are going to have a conversation later that you won't enjoy—"

But Steve cut him off "Just tell me if he's alive, sir. B-A-R—"

"Do not spell at me, son." Colonel Phillips was angry now.

Agent Carter sees Steve's resolve and turns to Colonel Phillips.

"Sir, Rogers is only on loan to the USO. Officially, he is still SSR." Agent Carter tried to reason out to Colonel Phillips. The Colonel stares at Steve and finally, he relents.

"Barnes?" He asked. Steve nods. He picks up a thick sheaf of letters, leafing through the first few. "I've signed more condolence letters today than I'd care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."

Steve pales, Colonel Phillips' words sinking in. He stares at a map of Austria on the wall, alongside aerial photos of a facility.

"What about the others? You're planning a rescue mission?" Steve not giving up hope yet.

"Yeah. It's called "winning the war."" Colonel Phillips replied.

"But if you know where they are—" Steve was cut off by the irritated Colonel. "They're thirty miles behind the lines. Through some of the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We'd lose more men than we'd save. I don't expect you to understand that, because you are a chorus girl."

"I think I understand pretty well." Steve calmed himself, avoiding an outburst.

"Then understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters right, you've got some place to be in half an hour." the Colonel reminded Steve.

"Yes, sir. I do." Steve exits, taking one last look at the maps as he goes.

Colonel Phillips goes back to signing letters. He looks to Agent Carter "You got something to say now's the time to keep it to yourself."

U.S. CAMP - MAKESHIFT STAGE, BACKSTAGE. NIGHT.

Musicians hustle as Senator Brandt's aide searches for Steve.

"Where the hell is Rogers? Anyone seen him?" The aide asked. He grabs the three girls from the motorcycle number. "Get out there. Now! Stall!".

The first girl hurries to a shelf and grabs her "U" HELMET. The second girl grabs her "S" HELMET. The last girl reaches the shelf to find it empty. She looks around for her missing "A" HELMET and asked "Where's my helmet?"

LOCKHEED ELECTRA. NIGHT.

A silver Lockheed Electra cuts through the clouds. The "A" HELMET from the USO show sits on a bench. Beside it, Steve buttons fatigues [1] over his Cap shirt.

"The Hydra camp is in Krausberg, tucked between two mountain ranges. It's a factory of some kind." Kindly informed Steve. Agent Carter is sitting across from him, studying a map.

Howard Stark leans back from the controls and added "We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep."

"Just get me as close as you can." Then Steve looks to Agent Carter "You know, you're both going to be in a lot of trouble when you land."

"And you're not?" Agent Carter rebutted.

"Yeah, but where I'm landing, if anybody yells at me, I get to shoot them." Steve replied.

"They're undoubtedly going to shoot back." Agent Carter said.

Steve shows her his shield strapped to his back and said "It's got to be good for something."

"Agent Carter, if we're not in too much of a hurry, I thought we'd stop in Lucerne for a late night fondue." Mr. Stark interrupts and grins.

Steve was a little confused and asked "Why is he saying "fondue" like that? What's fondue?"

Agent Carter interpreted this as Steve getting jealous so she was amused. She wasn't sure about Steve's relationship with Yumhee and she haven't really seen the two or heard any news about their relationship ever since she left America. But she already decided to make the distance between them shorten.

"Stark's the best civilian pilot I've ever seen, and mad enough to brave this airspace. We're lucky to have him." Agent Carter said instead of answering Steve's question.

"Do you, are you two...fondue?" Steve asked cautiously in case the two were hiding their relationship like what him and Yumhee did at first. To him, they actually look good together.

Agent Carter ignored his question again and said "Take this transponder. Activate it when you're ready and the signal will lead us right to you."

Steve looks at the insignia, "STARK INDUSTRIES." Remembering the car show months ago he asked "You sure it works?"

"It's been tested more than you have." Mr. Stark replied.

Then something hit them. The plane lurches to the left. Anti-aircraft guns hammer the plane. Mr. Stark executes evasive maneuvers. Steve straps on his parachute and throws open the jump door.

"Rogers, get back here. We're taking you all the way in!" Agent Carter ordered Steve.

Explosions rock the air. Steve hesitates. Realizing what he's about to do. Yumhee's face that night before he left flashes in his mind. Then there was another explosion. He turns to Agent Carter and said "Once I'm clear, turn this thing around and get out of here!"

"You can't give me orders!" Agent Carter shouted back against the deafening sounds of explosions and anti-aircraft guns.

"The hell I can't! I'm a Captain!" Steve retorts smugly.

The plane was hit again and lurches once more just as Steve jumps. Agent Carter catches a glimpse of Steve's parachute. She swears under her breath, then signals Mr. Stark, who hauls on the throttle.

[1] the brownish green uniform worn especially by soldiers when working or fighting