Lawrence, Kansas: Crossbones and the newly restored Sin are on a violent rampage across the Midwest, robbing and killing. Sin guns down a bystander she recognizes and the killers search the victim’s car, finding an AIM outfit….
A week later, the villains are identified and SHIELD assigns Sharon Carter to track the murderous duo down; she enlists the aid of Captain America, ostensibly for his experience with the fugitives but really to check out a possible sighting of the missing Bucky Barnes in Pilsburg, Iowa. Arriving in the small town, Steve and Sharon question the local Sheriff who tells them that the suspect crashed a car into a large building causing a major fire then vanished, and provides a list of witnesses. They stop by the scene of the fire and are curious as to how reconstruction started on the ruined building so quickly—plus why the town is prospering without any signs of a viable industry. Conclusion: Bucky was here to investigate something…. They take rooms at a local hotel where Steve’s eye is caught by an old photo of a couple who turn out to be the former owners, now deceased. Questioning the locals about the crash only gets them evasive answers, until a drunk named Carly Jackston tells them what he saw. He relates how that night he witnessed a giant spider-like robot in combat with a man who battered the machine with his metallic arm until it exploded—the real cause of the devastating fire. Sharon advises Carly to leave town for his own safety and they head back to the hotel. On the way, Steve’s elation at confirming Bucky is still alive leads him to kiss Sharon and they share a brief tender moment. That night, Steve dreams about the War, and it jars his memory so that he recognizes the photo downstairs. Sitting up in bed he is targeted by three laser sights, he jumps up and he and Sharon confront a trio of AIM operatives, overcoming them easily. The leader asks Steve for help….