Captain America looks back on his early
days when he wanted nothing more than to be a man and serve in the
military during the war. These thoughts continue as he attends the
World Conference of Mayors in Chicago and he is there when it is
attacked by the terrorists who emulate the villain Nuke, with the
American flag tattooed on their faces. Cap knows he is not the only
super-soldier, they are being churned out by the dozens but he sees a
part of himself in all of them—and it makes him angry. Angry that
he keeps fighting but the nation no longer trusts him. While
pondering all this Cap takes down all of the villains and saves the
assembled mayors. After the battle, Cap is met by Thunderbolt Ross,
who orders him in the name of the President to give up his
freelancing. Cap resists this but Ross reminds him that Washington is
a new place after the Secret Empire and conspiracies multiply as to
whether the nation can trust Captain America....
Later, as Steve is sparring with a
holographic copy of himself, he listens to a right-wing radio host
explaining that Cap and the Hydra Supreme Commander are one and the
same. Sharon Carter drops by to tell him she is going away on a
mission and that Ross isn't so bad; she also extends what comfort she
can....
The next morning Steve says he's happy
for Sharon but needs to stop the Nuke attacks. She asks him to
forgive himself. After she goes, Steve picks up a box that contains
what appears to be a string of large blue pearls and suddenly he is
in holographic communication with his new ally, T'Challa, the
Black Panther....