HERO

By Scott Redmond and Dino Pollard

Princeton Walk

The elder woman opened the door and standing on the other side was Tony Stark. He wore a dark suit and a pair of sunglasses and a limousine was parked in the driveway of the Princeton Walk mansion.

“You must be Irenia,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m—”

“I hardly think you need to introduce yourself, Mr. Stark,” Irenia said with a smile. “Doubt there’s a soul alive who doesn’t recognize your face.”

Tony returned the smile. “The price of celebrity, I’m afraid. Is he around?”

Irenia nodded and stepped aside, motioning for Tony to enter. “Ever since he got back from Vietnam, he’s kept himself locked away. A few calls have come through, mostly from that Gyrich person trying to keep tabs on him, but he’s ignored every one of them.”

“Gyrich doesn’t like being out of the loop. What about SHIELD?” asked Tony.

Irenia led the billionaire inventor through the mansion. “Sharon called once to check up on him, but they’ve more or less let him have his space. Things have been pretty quiet, so they haven’t really needed Captain America. And then I’ve heard from the woman in charge of your team.”

Tony cringed slightly at that. “Maria Hill isn’t in charge of anything. She’s just the Avengers’ liaison with SHIELD.”

“She’s been trying to reach him as well, but Josiah won’t take any calls. Last time she began to get a little nasty because he apparently missed some meetings.”

“He didn’t miss anything important, so there’s nothing to worry about,” said Tony. “I hope she didn’t give you too much trouble.”

Irenia smiled. “Mr. Stark, I used to work at an orphanage where I had to deal with rowdy boys. I know how to put a person in their place and I did just that with that insufferable woman.”

Tony chuckled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Irenia came to a pair of double doors and opened them. Inside was a library but also some trophy cases in the center. Tony walked around and examined some of them. One held a concave triangular shield. On the front was the Double V Campaign eagle crest. Tony pointed to the case.

“What’s this?”

“That’s the shield his father used,” said Irenia.

“Incredible,” said Tony, gently laying his fingers on the case.

“He’s just through here, Mr. Stark.”

Tony stepped away from the case and followed Irenia through the library. The next door led to a stairwell and coming from the basement, they could hear a muffled pounding noise repeating. As they descended, the sound of a man grunting accompanied the pounding.

The basement housed a large gymnasium with several exercise mats, gymnastics equipment, a treadmill, exercise bike and free weights. The pounding came from one corner where Josiah X, wearing only a pair of sweat pants, pounded on a punching bag with his bare fists. The lights of the gym reflected off his sweat-streaked body and he appeared completely detached from the world.

“Josiah, you’ve got a visitor,” said Irenia.

Josiah ignored the voice of his surrogate mother, and continued to pound on the bag. Irenia grew visibly annoyed and walked up to him. “Boy, don’t think you’re too big to put over my knee! Now either you stop acting like a fool or I’ll really give you something to be upset over!”

His punches began to slow until he grabbed the bag and held it steady. He turned away from the bag and wiped his body down with a towel that sat in the corner. Picking up the water bottle also there, he drained it almost completely. He was still breathing heavily, but it quickly returned to normal and finally he looked at his guest.

“What do you want, Stark?”

“Been a while, Cap. You don’t call, you don’t write, I’m starting to think you’re on the verge of breaking up with me,” said Tony.

“If this is about the Avengers, then I’ll make it easy on you.” Josiah sat on the free weights bench. “I quit.”

Tony sighed and cast a glance at Irenia. “Could you give us a few minutes alone?”

“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me to break off a switch,” said Irenia.

Tony chuckled again as Irenia ascended the steps. “That’s a spirited woman.”

“We have nothing to discuss, Stark. I’m done with the team. Done with trying to live up to the legacy of a man whose shield I’m not fit to carry. The only reason I was chosen for this was because of my father.”

“Then you’re an idiot,” said Tony.

“Excuse me?”

Tony removed his sunglasses. “If you think I’m here to coddle you, then you’ve got another thing coming. I’m here to get you back to work. And if you think Steve would turn over that shield to anyone just based on family history, then you didn’t know Steve Rogers. I did. And Steve chose you because he believed you were the best man for the job.”

“He didn’t know anything about me,” said Josiah. “Didn’t know about the things I did in the past. If he did, he wouldn’t have chosen me. Maybe he wouldn’t have retired at all.”

“You’re wrong,” said Tony. “Steve knew exactly what he was doing. What you did is in the past. You really want redemption? You won’t get it by hiding from the world.”

Tony reached inside his jacket and pulled out an envelope. He passed it to Josiah, who looked at it in confusion. On the front was the logo of the Maria Stark Foundation. “What’s this?”

“One of the things the Maria Stark Foundation does is work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for granting requests of children with terminal diseases,” said Tony. “When a kid wants to meet their favorite superhero, the Maria Stark Foundation makes that possible.”

Josiah opened the envelope. Inside was a hand-written letter. It was from a ten-year-old girl named Callie Parks. In the letter, she said she had a degenerative heart disease and that her wish is to meet her favorite superhero—Captain America.

He put the letter back into the envelope and handed it to Tony. “This letter isn’t for me.”

“She said she wants to meet Captain America.”

“Which likely means she wants to meet Steve Rogers,” said Josiah. “So you’ll have to tell her that’s not possible.”

“The letter says nothing about that, it just says Captain America. And that’s you, isn’t it?”

Josiah hung his head. “Not anymore.”

“We’re talking about a dying girl who wants to have a talk with Captain America, just once,” said Tony. “You can make that happen. You should make that happen. If you’re going to give up the shield, then go out doing something positive. That’s what Steve would have wanted.”

“And after?”

“After you meet with her, I’ll personally take custody of the shield and hand-pick your successor,” said Tony.

“Then you’ll let me be?”

“SHIELD, the CSA, the Avengers—they’ll all be out of your hair,” said Tony. “Do we have a deal?”

Callie Parks sat in a hospital bed, a worn graphic novel clutched in her hands. She leafed through the weathered pages, absorbing every panel of the comic. Even though she had read it more times than she could count, each time she turned the pages, she felt a sense of awe as she read the World War II-era adventures of Captain America and his sidekick, Bucky.

The door opened and Callie heard the voice of one of her usual nurses but she didn’t look up from the comic. “Callie?” asked the nurse. “You’ve got a visitor.”

“Who is—” Callie’s words were silenced once she looked up from the comic book. Towering over the nurse was a broad-shouldered man wearing a red bandana over his face. His black arms were bare, save for the red gloves on his hands, which matched his boots. And on his chest he wore blue chainmail that met with red and white stripes over his abdomen. A large, white star was emblazoned on the chainmail. On his back, he wore a circular shield. Although Callie couldn’t see it from her angle, she knew it was red, white and blue with a large star in the center.

Captain America stepped towards the bed with a smile on his face. “Hello Callie.”

Callie’s mouth hung open in amazement, she was completely paralyzed with awe. The nurse pulled the chair in the corner towards Callie’s bed and motioned for Captain America to sit in it.

“I’ll leave you two alone to talk,” she said before exiting.

Captain America took the shield off his back and set it down by the bed and sat in the chair. He leaned towards Callie, who still just stared at him. “I know you were hoping for someone else. But as I’m sure you’re aware, Steve Rogers…he’s no longer with us.”

Callie nodded solemnly. “I’ve seen you on TV. You’re the new Cap, aren’t you?”

Josiah nodded. “I am.” He noticed the old graphic novel and reached for it. “What’s that?”

Callie handed it to him. “It’s a collection. Of Cap comics from the war an’ after.”

Josiah flipped through the pages with a smile on his face. “I remember these.”

“You do?”

“Oh yeah,” he said. “I used to read these stories when I was your age. I’d hang out at the newsstand, read ‘em for hours on end.”

“At the newsstand?”

“That’s where you bought comics when they came out. Back in my day.”

“But…these came out a long time ago. That means you’re…”

“A lot older than I look,” said Josiah. “It’s because of what’s inside me.”

“An’ what’s that?” asked Callie.

Josiah flipped through the pages. He found a part where a young, frail-looking man with blond hair was injected with a serum. On the next page, the man looked like an Olympic athlete.

“The same thing that was inside Steve Rogers. The same thing that my father passed on to me—the Super Soldier Serum.”

“Who’s your dad?” asked Callie.

“His name is Isaiah Bradley,” said Josiah. “Before they gave the Super Soldier Serum to Steve, they needed to test it. And so they tested it on a number of people. My father was the only survivor.”

“Why would they test it on people if they didn’t know it would work?”

“In those days, things were very different, Callie. Some people weren’t thought to be as…important as others,” said Josiah.

“But why?”

“Because they were different.”

“So if your dad got the serum, how come he wasn’t Cap?” asked Callie.

“Because he was different. And the serum wasn’t quite perfected. There were still some problems with it,” said Josiah. “But he did go on a mission as Captain America.”

“What happened to him?”

“The serum damaged his mind, and he was hidden away. But legend about him spread through underground channels and he became a hero to many,” said Josiah. “I was born when the government wanted a way to recreate the serum. But I never knew my parents as a child. My mother felt I would be safer if I were away from them. So I grew up in an orphanage and I didn’t meet my parents until years later.”

“So you had powers before you became Captain America?”

Josiah nodded. “I’ve had these powers all my life.”

“Were you a superhero before?”

He shook his head. “I was a soldier.”

“Just like Cap!”

Josiah shut his eyes. “No, not quite. Vietnam was a very different kind of war. There were…mistakes.”

“What kind of mistakes?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” said Josiah. “Eventually, I came back to America. I marched in the Civil Rights Movement. I fought for the kind of rights and treatment my father never received. And after that, I went on a pilgrimage.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a spiritual journey. I discovered the Muslim faith and traveled to Mecca. After that, I became an imam.”

“What’s an imam?”

“A priest in the Muslim faith,” said Josiah. “That was around the time I first met my parents. And I found out the truth about who I was. I began my work then in underprivileged neighborhoods, helping those who were less fortunate than I had been.”

“So how did Cap find out about you?” asked Callie.

“There was an attack in the mission I run,” said Josiah. “A supervillain, named the Taskmaster, was hired to attack me. I fought him and afterwards, I met Cap for the first time. He had just found out who I was and then he began training me.”

“So he taught you how to use the shield? Taught you how to be Captain America?”

“He did,” said Josiah. “In those months, Steve and I became very good friends. He taught me a lot. And then, when he felt the time was right, he gave me the shield and asked me to be the new Captain America.”

“What did you do as Captain America?”

“First, Tony Stark asked me to join the Avengers. And since I became Captain America, I’ve fought a number of villains. Such as the Wrecking Crew, Ultron, Batroc, and many others.”

“You save people’s lives?” asked Callie.

“I’ve saved some, yes.”

“And you’re an Avenger?”

Josiah nodded.

“So can I ask you a question?” asked Callie.

“Of course,” said Josiah.

“If you’re Captain America, and an Avenger. And if you fight bad guys and you save people…” said Callie, “…then why do people hate you?”

“Like who?” asked Josiah.

“Well…there are kids at school. Before I got too sick to keep going,” said Callie. “They said you’re a terrorist. And then sometimes I see people on TV saying stuff like that about you.”

“You shouldn’t pay any attention to people like that, Callie,” said Josiah.

“But if it’s not true, then why do you let them say those things?”

“Because people can say whatever they want. That’s part of what America stands for.”

“Even if it’s not true? Even if it’s mean?”

“That’s right. And Steve believed the same thing.”

“But why don’t you tell people that they’re lying? Why let them say those things about you all the time?”

“Because I’m too busy fighting the real bad guys,” said Josiah. “Those people you see on TV? They just want people to pay attention to them. And so they scream and shout and tell lies because that gets them attention. Even if I said they were lying, they’d still keep shouting. It wouldn’t stop them. So it’s better to just ignore them and focus on what’s important.”

“But why you?” asked Callie. “Why do they attack Captain America?”

“Because I’m different,” said Josiah. “And it’s always easier to pick on someone different.”

“So they’re bullies?”

“That’s a good way of putting it.”

“But you never give up, right?” asked Callie. “When I was younger, some of the other kids made fun of me. Because I liked Cap. They said he wasn’t as cool as the Punisher. They said he was stupid and only stupid people would like Cap. And when I went home, I started crying and I started to take down my Cap poster.”

“And then what happened?” asked Josiah.

“My dad saw me doing it and he stopped me. He told me there was nothing stupid about Cap and that I shouldn’t give up just because some kids didn’t understand,” said Callie. “He said Cap would never let bullies tell him what to do an’ that I should be strong like Cap. So that’s what it’s like, isn’t it? You never give up?”

“…that’s right,” said Josiah.

“Can I…can I see your shield?” asked Callie.

“Of course.” Josiah lifted the shield from the ground and laid it on Callie’s lap. She held her hands over it, hovering above the surface. It was as if she were scared to touch it. She looked at Josiah for confirmation that it was okay and he nodded. Carefully, she laid her hands on the shield, running them over its surface. Despite the years of use the shield had gotten, all the beatings it took, it was still as smooth as the day it was made.

“I thought it’d be heavier.”

“It is heavy,” said Josiah. “But not in the way you think.”

“What do you mean?”

“Carrying this shield means you’re carrying a legend. It means you have something to live up to. An ideal that you have to be like,” said Josiah. “And there are times when it seems too heavy a burden.”

“But you carry it anyway, don’t you?” asked Callie.

“I do.”

“That’s why you’re my favorite superhero,” said Callie. “Because you never give up.”

“I think you mean that’s why Steve Rogers was your favorite superhero.”

Callie shook her head. “No, I mean you. Because you’re Captain America now.”

Josiah smiled. “Thank you.”

Not long after Josiah went to visit her in the hospital, Callie Parks’ degenerative heart disease finally got the better of her and she passed away. The Maria Stark Foundation informed Josiah of her death with a letter and he made it a point to attend the funeral.

He stood apart from the crowd in the cemetery, dressed in a black suit and wearing a pair of sunglasses. He also wore a kufi over his head and as the crowd dispersed, he stayed for a few moments, looking at the coffin as it was lowered into the ground.

“Excuse me?”

Josiah felt a hand gently touch his shoulder. Turning, he saw a man and a woman standing behind him. The woman dabbed her eyes with a tissue and her husband kept an arm around her. His eyes were red and it looked as if he had been crying as well.

“Yes?” asked Josiah.

The man held out his free hand. “I’m Jeff Parks. Callie’s father.”

“Oh.” Josiah shook his hand. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

“You’re him, aren’t you?” asked Jeff. “Captain America?”

“You can call me Josiah.”

“I wanted to thank you for visiting Callie,” said Jeff. “Until she passed, it was the only thing she talked about. I don’t think I ever saw her so happy. You gave her a lot of strength.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you,” said Josiah. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a card with the information for his mission on it and handed it to Jeff. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please contact me through this information.”

“Thank you,” said Jeff.

Once they parted ways, Josiah walked towards the cemetery gates. He had come by taxi and was prepared to return to Princeton Walk the same way. But instead, he saw a convertible sitting outside the gates. It was bright red with beige interior and a familiar face sat behind the wheel.

“Need a lift?” asked Tony.

“What are you doing here, Stark?”

“I knew about the funeral. I hoped I would find you here. So are you going to get in or do I have to break out the Gold Card first?”

Josiah opened the passenger door and sat inside. Tony pulled away from the cemetery, racing down the streets towards Princeton Walk.

“I thought we had a deal,” said Josiah. “No more interference from you in my life.”

“We did,” said Tony. “I just wanted to be sure the deal was still on.”

Josiah watched the cemetery gates vanish into the horizon via the side-view mirror. “It’s not.”

“Come again?”

“Captain America never gives up,” said Josiah.