---

The Tinkerer ran his fifth diagnostic test on the security system inside Steve Rogers’ brownstone and as the results came back, he shook his head for the fifth time in disbelief.

“This isn’t possible…”

“What isn’t?” asked Sharon, standing behind the Tinkerer with her gun drawn. The Falcon stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.

The Tinkerer turned his chair to face Sharon. “What I mean is you’re exactly right. The entire system was offline when Rogers was attacked.”

“We know all that,” said the Falcon.

“Problem is it shouldn’t have been,” said the Tinkerer. “Look, I pride myself on being on the cutting edge of technology and I provide my customers with almost the most advanced products on the market.”

“Almost?” asked the Falcon.

“This is beyond anything I’ve ever developed,” said Tinkerer. “Getting past the security, maybe. But getting into the system, changing the logs so it’s all been masked as an authorized shut down? That’s not something I can do. Which means you’re dealing with someone who has more technology than I have access to, or…”

“Or you were right.” The Falcon looked at Sharon as she spoke. “This was an inside job. Someone at SHIELD did this.”

“And for someone at SHIELD to have access to those codes, it definitely wasn’t someone low-level,” said Sharon. She reached into one of the pouches on her belt and drew out a satellite-enabled cellular phone.

“What are you doing?” asked the Falcon.

She raised her hand as a gesture for Sam to stay quiet as she made her call. After a few moments, she spoke to whoever was on the other end. “This is Agent 13, I need a list compiled of all high-ranking SHIELD agents. Narrow down the list to only those whose files list any association with Steve Rogers or any of his known aliases.”

“Order acknowledged, Agent 13. Shall I prepare a hard copy for you or simply transmit the data directly to your terminal on the Helicarrier?”

“No, send it to my mobile,” said Sharon. “We may have a leak that needs plugging and I don’t want anyone else aware of this.”

She ended the call and looked back at the Falcon and the Tinkerer. “It should only take a few minutes.

“And then what?” asked the Tinkerer. “What if you don’t like the results?”

“Then it’d be keeping with the trend because there’s nothing about this situation I like so far,” said Sharon. “My job is to find Steve’s killer and come hell or high water, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Sharon’s mobile began to beep. She took it out and the display read DATA RECEIVED. She opened the file and ran down the list of agents who could have had access to Steve’s brownstone.

“I’m not even sure if there is anyone we can rule out,” said Sharon. “I’m afraid if we do based on what we know, then we could potentially let the killer off.”

“Just keep scrolling, maybe there’s someone there who will look sus—”

“Right there,” said Sharon. She highlighted the name that caught her eye and the Falcon read it out loud.

“Jack Monroe? You don’t think Nomad could have done this, do you?”

“It’s more than that,” said Sharon. “Monroe only recently signed up with SHIELD. How the hell did he get promoted to such high access so fast?”

“No, no way,” said the Falcon.

“Sam, think about this,” said Sharon. “Nomad has a history of being manipulated by others. How do we know this isn’t any different? He’s the one who tipped us off to Control in the first place. If Control got to him, they would have the means to use him against Steve. Throw in his training and the Super Soldier Serum…”

“…and the element of surprise…” mused the Falcon, starting to see the possibility. He sighed. “I hate to admit it, but you’re right.”

“So we have our man,” said Sharon. “Nomad killed Captain America.”

---

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE LIVING LEGEND?

Part III

By Dino Pollard

---

Avengers Island

Josiah X rubbed the dreariness from his eyes. He had been staring at these monitors for several hours straight, looking through Avengers files, hoping that he could find some lead to Steve’s killer.

“Pardon me, Captain?”

He looked up and smiled at the sight of the Avengers’ butler, Edwin Jarvis. The elder Englishman approached with a tray containing a cup, a saucer, two small containers and a metal pot. He set it down on a nearby table. “I thought you might like some coffee?”

“That’d be great, thanks,” said Josiah.

Jarvis nodded and poured the coffee. “How do you take it, sir?”

“Cream, no sugar.”

“Have you made any progress on your search?” asked Jarvis as he approached with the cup. Josiah took it from his hand but kept his gaze focused on the monitors.

“Unfortunately not,” he said. “There are plenty of people who would have liked to see Steve dead. But none I can find who would have been able to cover their tracks this well.”

“Perhaps Colonel Fury…?”

“He was very gung-ho about fingering Nuke as the perpetrator but that doesn’t sit right with me. There’s a lot about this case that doesn’t sit right with me.”

Jarvis looked at the list of suspects Josiah had compiled on the monitor. “Captain, if I may be so brash as to offer a suggestion?”

“Please do, I’m just about at the end of my rope here,” said Josiah.

“Perhaps the problem is you are looking at the obvious targets,” said Jarvis. “The Red Skull, Batroc, Arnim Zola, Crossbones, Barons Strucker and Zemo and so forth. These are all men who have very obvious motivations for Master Rogers’ death. But perhaps there is more here that you are not considering. Why would Colonel Fury be so quick to point you in the direction of someone like Nuke?”

“Given Nuke’s involvement with Control, it seemed very likely,” said Josiah.

“Not too long ago, the Avengers had an encounter with the assassin called Bullseye,” said Jarvis.

“The Luminstan affair, I know, I read the case file.”

“Were you also aware that there was never any record of Bullseye’s escape or release from confinement?” asked Jarvis.

“Would have taken someone very high up to arrange for that,” said Josiah. “You think Control was behind it.”

“Master Rogers did at least, once he discovered their existence,” said Jarvis.

“You’re saying if Control used Nuke, they would have been a lot quieter about it. Gyrich said something similar.” Josiah rubbed his chin as he considered some of the possibilities that raced through his mind. “I assumed Fury’s judgment was clouded because Steve was a friend and he wanted someone—anyone—to blame. But now…”

Josiah turned off the computer and stood from the chair. He picked up the shield from its resting spot near the door and slid it onto his back. Jarvis watched as he donned the red bandana that served as his mask.

“Sir? Where are you going?” asked the butler.

“Fury knows more than he’s letting on, so it’s time he and I had a little chat,” said Captain America. “I’m borrowing one of the Quinjets. If Stark asks, assure him I’ll have it back in one piece.”

---

SHIELD Helicarrier

[[ PRIORITY MESSAGE: Confirmed apprehension of Franklin Simpson, alias Nuke ]]

Fury shook his head as he read the message. Nuke had been put back into custody once more after he broke into a government facility. Somehow, he was subdued and captured. And although details were sketchy, Fury knew one thing was for certain—this now made his job more difficult.

The sound of a buzzer indicated someone stood outside his office. Fury deleted the message and pressed a button on his desk that opened the door. Captain America entered, arms folded across his chest, his face seemingly chiseled from stone.

“Somethin’ I can do for you?” asked Fury.

“You can tell me everything you know about Steve Rogers’ death,” said Captain America.

Fury raised an eyebrow. “This some kinda joke?”

“I’m not laughing, Nick. And neither are you.” Captain America stepped closer and locked his eyes with Fury’s. “I know you’re hiding something.”

“I told you everything I know,” said Fury.

“You kept pointing me towards Nuke, yet we both know this doesn’t fit his profile.”

“So Control used him, just like when they offed Haywerth.”

“That line’s not going to work, either. If Control’s behind this, why didn’t they cover up Nuke’s escape? They’ve done it before, they have the means. But there’s another reason I know why Control’s not involved.”

“What’s that?” asked Fury.

“Because Control doesn’t benefit from Steve’s death.”

“The hell do you know about what they do and don’t benefit from?”

“I have my sources and until I know where you stand, they’re going to remain confidential.”

“Alright fine, maybe I overreacted with Nuke,” said Fury. “Reason I say that is ’cause I just got a message—he was apprehended. And the circumstances behind that capture are pretty suspect. Right now, we gotta—”

Fury paused as a beeping noise broke his sentence. Captain America reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out the source—his Avengers communicard. The display had the Falcon’s image as a message was typed in. Once Josiah read it, he turned off the card and placed it back in his pouch.

“What was that about?” asked Fury.

“Avengers business, I just got a priority message,” said Captain America. “We’ll talk later, Fury.”

---

The Falcon and Sharon Carter waited patiently at the harbor until they saw lights in the sky and the small Quinjet descended from the clouds, touching down courtesy of its VTOL systems. The hatch opened and Captain America emerged, his communicard in hand.

“What’s the meaning of this, Sam?” he asked. “’Don’t trust Fury’ followed by these coordinates?”

“Sharon and I have been doing some investigating, trying to find out who killed Steve and we came up with something pretty interesting,” said the Falcon. “We think Nomad’s behind it.”

“Nomad? Why him?” asked Captain America.

“Only someone with high-level SHIELD access could have gotten the codes to shut down Steve’s security systems,” said Sharon. “Nomad was recently given that SHIELD status.”

“Why would Fury promote him so fast so quickly?” asked Captain America.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out, too,” said Sharon. “And given their recent history, Control has plenty of reason to use Nomad as the triggerman.”

“Or someone who wants us to think it’s Control,” said Captain America.

“What?” asked the Falcon.

“Control is as lost on this as we are. They didn’t order Steve’s death and they’re trying to find out who’s responsible as well.”

“How could you know that?” asked the Falcon.

“I have a mole inside their organization,” said Captain America. “We’re starting to pierce the veil of secrecy they’ve got up, but we need more.”

“Nomad right now is the best lead we’ve got. According to what I was able to pull off SHIELD’s mainframe, he’s stationed at a safehouse not far from here,” said Sharon.

“Sharon, this safehouse, can you get into their system from a distance?” asked Captain America.

Sharon nodded. “I think I can.”

“Good. Take the Quinjet and get as close as you can to do just that through the satellite connection.” Captain America turned to the Falcon. “Sam, you and I go in quiet and see if we can get the drop on Monroe.”

The Falcon nodded. “Just like he did with Steve.”

Sharon grabbed Captain America’s shoulder. “You can’t put me on the sidelines for this. He killed Steve, if anyone’s going after him, it should be me.”

“I understand and you’ll get your five minutes alone—after,” said Captain America. “But right now, you’re the only one of us with the means to disable his security and if we don’t have that, he’s got a good chance of getting away.”

Sharon sighed. “Fine.”

“Good, get moving.”

Sharon said nothing as she boarded the Quinjet. A few moments later, it lifted off the ground and ascended into the skies. Once she left, the Falcon’s wings extended from his back and he began to rise up, taking Josiah’s hands in his own and carrying the two of them up to the rooftops.

“There’s more to this,” said the Falcon.

“What do you mean?”

“You didn’t just ask Sharon to take the Quinjet for the security system. It’s about more than the element of surprise, isn’t it?”

“She’s a liability,” said Captain America. “Her relationship with Steve has made this too personal for her. She’s liable to get reckless and kill Monroe before he tells us what he knows.”

“Why aren’t you worried about that with me?” asked the Falcon.

“I am, but it’s easier to keep an eye on one of you as opposed to two. Plus you’re not armed, she is.”

“Fair enough.”

The rest of the flight preceded in silence, with neither man having any particular desire to speak. Both of them were focused instead on finding Nomad and discovering just why he decided to betray a man who had been a mentor to him.

When they reached their destination, the Falcon released his grip and Captain America landed on the rooftop in a crouch. He took the shield off his back and slid it onto his right arm. His eyes turned to the clouds, where he knew the Quinjet was even if he couldn’t see it. He felt the buzz of his communicard and took it out. A message from Sharon, transmitted via the Quinjet. It had only two words—DOOR’S OPEN.

Captain America moved to the skylight and looked through it. On the ground level, he could see Jack Monroe dressed in his SHIELD uniform, standing in front of a weapon rack. The Sentinel of Liberty jumped into the skylight, using his shield to shatter the glass.

Nomad’s eyes turned up and his hand instantly went to his sidearm. He began firing but the bullets ricocheted off the shield’s face as Captain America landed. He threw the shield and it took the gun out of the equation. But before the shield could return, Nomad lunged forward, drawing one of his battle staves and bringing it down.

Captain America brought his arm up to block the strike and then Nomad activated a switch and a blinding flash of light came from the tip. The momentary blindness was all Nomad needed to draw the second stave and strike at Captain America’s legs and bring him to the ground.

Nomad brought the staves together and they combined to form a sectional lance. He looked down at Captain America and placed one end of the staff against his chest. “The hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked.

“Bringing you in for killing Steve.”

Nomad chuckled. “You don’t know a goddamn thing, Josiah. I gave you a chance to come in on this with me, to find out what’s really going on with Control and you blew me off. Now look at you, wearing that uniform…for what? Trying to prove something to your father?”

“Spare us the psychobabble, Monroe!”

Nomad looked up as the Falcon’s feet struck him in the head. The Falcon lunged forward again, his fist connecting with Nomad’s jaw. When he brought his leg around for a kick, Nomad had recovered and grabbed it, then relied on his enhanced strength.

The Falcon refused to scream as his leg broke.

“Stay out of this, Sam,” said Nomad, shoving the defeated Avenger to the side. “You don’t know what you’re doing. And besides…” Nomad picked up the shield as he walked back towards Captain America. “…this is between us super soldiers, isn’t it?”

He retracted his arm and threw the shield with incredible accuracy and strength. Captain America bent backwards at the last moment to avoid getting struck in the head with it. The shield ricocheted off the back wall and flew back into the hands of its rightful owner. But before he could ready himself for another strike, he froze.

The Falcon now had a gun pointed at his head. A gun held by Nomad. “You throw that shield, you’ll probably take me down. But not before I put a bullet in Sam’s head. Is that a risk you wanna take? You really think you’re faster than me?”

Captain America froze, considering his options. Nomad was right. The fastest course of action to disarm him would be the shield, but it still wouldn’t be fast enough. And Nomad had already killed one Avenger. Josiah wouldn’t let him claim another.

Slowly, he lowered the shield.

“Good,” said Nomad. “Now, let’s talk about th—”

PFFT

The gun had been silenced but no less lethal. Nomad’s body fell to the floor as blood seeped from the wound on his forehead. Captain America got into a combat stance, prepared to take on a new threat but instead, his muscles relaxed just slightly when the gunman emerged from the shadows.

“Ease up, Cap, it’s over now.” Nick Fury slid the silenced gun into his shoulder holster.

“Nick?” asked Captain America.

“Steve was quick to trust Monroe again, but I wasn’t,” said Fury. “That’s why I promoted him so high. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Turns out I was right to do so.”

“What do you mean?” asked the Falcon. “You knew the whole time that it was Nomad?”

“Not quite,” said Fury. “But I knew he was involved somehow. Once I put the pieces together, I came to the same conclusion you an’ Sharon did. And when Cap left the Helicarrier in such a hurry, I knew you guys were movin’ in. Came here to stop you from killing him so we could learn more about what’s goin’ on.”

“You came here to keep him alive.” The Falcon looked down at Nomad then back at Fury. “Good work.”

“’Hey, thanks for savin’ my ass, Nick,’” grumbled Fury. “I had the shot, I took it. We may be in the dark, but at least we’re not down any more men.”

“Then who was it?” asked Captain America. “Who’s been using Steve?”

“Dunno, but I’m gonna find out,” said Fury.

---

Three Days Later

Fury’s car flew over the heartland, nothing but plain fields racing beneath him. As he approached, a transmission came through his system.

[[ Identify yourself immediately or you will be eliminated within five seconds. ]]

“Fury, Nicholas. Access Code 11-068.”

[[ Acknowledged. Welcome back, Colonel. ]]

Fury descended and landed on the empty field. Once he touched down, the field lowered, revealing a hidden hangar. He drove the car off the platform and it rose back up. When he brought the car to a stop, a man decked out in armor with short, brown hair waited for him. Fury stepped out of the car and began to light a cigar.

“How’s it feel to be dead, kid?” he asked.

“Liberating, I guess,” said Nomad. “The LMD worked?”

“Like a charm,” said Fury. “No one’ll question it.”

“Good,” said Nomad. “So we’re free to operate in secret.”

“You are,” said Fury. “Takin’ out Steve was just the first step. Now the second step, that’s where things get interesting. And this time, you’re on your own.”

---