NOTE: This takes place after the events of “Fourth Reich.”

Little Mogadishu
A Few Weeks Earlier

Josiah al hajj Saddiq, otherwise known as Josiah X, surveyed the damage done to his Muslim mission. A few days ago, it was attacked by gang bangers who had been hired by the Taskmaster. Josiah, breaking a vow he made long ago to himself, donned his father’s old chain mail and went after the Taskmaster.

Now, surveying the damage, he wondered if he should even bother rebuilding. The Taskmaster said the program wanted him back. That meant trouble. That meant the government now knew where he was and if he wasn’t careful, he could bring far more trouble for the residents of the Mog.

“Looks pretty bad.”

Josiah turned at the sound of the voice. A young man with tan skin, blond hair and blue eyes stood behind him. He wore a long trench coat, his hands stuffed inside the pockets.

“Yes, it does,” said Josiah. “Can I help you with something, friend?”

“You and I have a lot to discuss, Josiah.”

“How do you know my name?”

“I know a lot about you, Josiah al hajj Saddiq,” said Steve. “Or would you prefer Josiah X?”

“X is fine.”

“What about Josiah Bradley?”

Josiah lowered his sunglasses. “Excuse me?”

“I know who you are, Josiah. I know who your father is. And I know the secret you’ve been trying to keep to yourself.”

Josiah crossed his arms. “Let me enlighten you on something, friend. I am a man of peace now. But if you come around here and threaten me or my family, then I may just forget my vows.”

“That’s not what I want at all, Josiah. I heard about what happened here. I know about the Taskmaster. And I’d like to offer my help.”

“The Maria Stark Foundation would like to rebuild your mission.”

“I see. And just who might you be?”

“Sorry, not sure where my manners are today.” He pulled one hand out of his pocket and offered it. “My name’s Steve Rogers.”

Josiah looked at the hand and chuckled. “Right. Is this a joke?”

“No joke at all,” said Steve. He opened his trench coat, revealing a blue chain mail shirt with a white star over the front.

“I’ll be damned,” said Josiah. “Captain America himself. All these years and only now you’ve begun to care about the black Captain America?”

“If I knew about it earlier, I would have come sooner,” said Steve. “There’s a lot going on, Josiah. A lot you aren’t aware of and a lot I’m not aware of. So please, is there somewhere we can go to talk?”

LEGACY

Part I: Digging Up The Past

By Dino Pollard

Avengers Island
Today

One year ago, the Avengers were granted sovereign status by the United Nations, effectively making Avengers Mansion foreign soil and allowing all active Avengers to operate with diplomatic immunity.

This, however, did not hold up. While being controlled by a Kree warrior named Noh-Varr, the Avengers were forced to attack Washington, DC. It was an event that the President did not take kindly. So much that he declared war on the Avengers, forcing them to seek refuge in Latveria under the protection of Victor Von Doom.

This turned out to be a ruse by Doom, who attempted to use the combined powers of Captain Marvel and Franklin Richards to bring the planet under his bootheel. When he went to America to lay claim to his power, the President revealed his true identity—Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull. With the Cosmic Cube in his possession, the Skull had secretly killed the President and taken his place, then used the Cube to conquer America and remake it in his vision.

The Avengers were able to defeat him and order was restored. But Avengers Mansion remained destroyed and as a result, the new President agreed to help fund a new headquarters for the team to make amends for America’s actions. The United Nations, grateful for the Avengers averting global destruction, provided funding as well gathered from member nations, as did other Avenger allies such as Stark Enterprises and the X-Corporation.

Now, the new headquarters was just about finished. A man-made island constructed off the coast of New York. Overall, a much larger facility than Avengers Mansion ever was. The center building, called the capital, had a flag blowing high above it, the Avengers symbol—a stylized A in a circle. Other flags of various nations billowed in the wind, symbolizing the different nationalities that comprised Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

As the construction continued, Steve Rogers stood on the roof of the capital and watched. He was dressed in costume but his mask hung loose around his neck.

“Not a bad view, huh?”

The slightly digitized voice came from above as Iron Man landed by Steve’s side. The faceplate rose up, revealing the handsome features of Tony Stark. Tony referred to New York’s skyline, plainly viewable off in the distance as well as Liberty Island. “Figured you would appreciate it more than anyone.”

“It’s nice, I just have a lot on my mind lately,” said Steve.

“The Skull did a number on you,” said Tony. “It’s understandable to feel out of sorts.”

“It’s more than that,” said Steve. “Tony, this is a new century and people still look to me for leadership when I was frozen for half of the last century. As much as I’ve adjusted over the years to this new world, there’s a lot I still can’t be prepared for.”

“I’ve never been accused to being slow, but just what are you talking about?” asked Tony.

“This is a new world and I’m not sure if I’m the one who can stand up to it,” said Steve. “At least, not as Captain America. No one stays the President of this country for long, eventually there’s a change. Maybe it’s time for Captain America to change as well.”

“Steve, there have been other Caps and none of them could hold a candle to you.”

“Maybe that’s because no one gave them the chance,” said Steve. “Maybe because they weren’t selected for the right reasons.”

“We just came out of a really huge situation. After everything you’ve been through, I can see why you’d be so rattled and confused.”

“I’m not confused, Tony. I’m seeing things with crystal clarity. It’s time for a change.”

SHIELD Helicarrier

Nick Fury and Sharon Carter stood in an observation booth, overlooking a training room as Josiah X maneuvered his way past the traps set for him. Flame-throwers, gun turrets, dropping floors, nothing was able to deter him.

“He’s good,” said Fury.

“Bring him onboard,” said Sharon. “Make him an agent, put him on Walker’s team, whatever. He’s obviously got the skill.”

“Actually, I’ve got other plans for him,” said Fury. “Besides, I don’t see him and Walker gettin’ on too well.”

The door opened and a man entered, dressed in a blue uniform with a white belt, boots, gloves and shoulder straps. His long, brown hair was pulled back into a tail. “You wanted to see me?”

“Never thought I’d see the day we’d get Jack Monroe into a SHIELD uniform,” said Fury with a grin.

“It itches,” said Jack.

“Looks a lot better than your first Nomad outfit,” said Sharon.

“You may get flack from the CSA about this,” said Jack. “I doubt Gyrich is happy that I’m now a SHIELD agent.”

“Gyrich can kiss my hairy, bullet-riddled ass,” said Fury.

“Great, thanks to that visual, I’ll never have an orgasm again,” said Sharon.

Fury pressed a button on the control panel, turning off the training room’s armaments. Pushing another one activated the intercom. “Good work, Josiah. Hit the showers an’ get something to eat.”

Josiah looked up at the observation booth and nodded before leaving the room. Fury turned to the other two and said, “follow me.” He led the way out of the booth with Sharon and Jack following. The three of them returned to Fury’s office where he motioned for each of them to sit and Fury himself sat behind the desk.

“Okay, it’s time we had a chat about what Monroe found from that base a few weeks back,” said Fury. “After everything with Doom and the Skull, we unfortunately got a bit distracted. But now, we can get back to business.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Josiah?” asked Jack.

“He’s not part of this,” said Fury.

“The hell he’s not, he’s Weapon VI,” said Jack.

“I get that, but he’s not. Part. Of this. He’s got another job I’m preparing him for.”

“So what about me?” asked Jack. “Are you going to throw me to the curb as well?”

“No,” said Fury. “You’re going to be the one who heads up the investigation into Control.”

“What was in those files anyway?” asked Sharon.

“Glad you asked,” said Fury. “Weapon Plus dates before World War II, which we already knew. Horton’s experiments were actually to design the first of robot infantry. But it went sour once his prototype burst into flames at the first exposure to oxygen.”

“Hammond.”

“Exactly. That formed Weapon Plus and Hammond became Weapon 0 after the fact. The program then began to look into setting up a human Super Soldier. We know Isaiah Bradley was the first successful recipient of the Super Soldier Serum. He broke free, went behind enemy lines and was there for years. When he came back, he was arrested before finally being pardoned by Eisenhower. Since then, he’s been watched like a hawk.”

“Weapon I and then Steve was Weapon II,” said Jack. “And we know what happened with Weapons III and IV—the Grand Director and myself.”

“And Josiah is VI while X was Wolverine,” said Sharon. “And Nuke was one of them as well.”

“The Taskmaster is also involved in this somehow, Josiah said he mentioned something about their abilities coming from the same people,” said Fury. “Here’s something else we know—looks like there was someone else involved with Control. A scientist named Richards.”

“Reed Richards? How’s that possible, he’s too young,” said Sharon.

“Not Reed. His father, Nathaniel,” said Fury. “Except he’s hopping dimensions or time or something like that, so we’ve got no way to reach him.”

“All the original members of Control are dead, except Ross,” said Sharon. “And we can’t get to him.”

“You mean SHIELD can’t get to him,” said Jack. “That’s why you want me to do this, right? You want me to see what I can dig out of Ross?”

“Ross is just part of it, there was something else in those files, something I found really interesting,” said Fury. “Something known as Operation: WHITEOUT.”

“WHITEOUT?” asked Jack. “Any other information beyond that?”

“None,” said Fury. “What I need from you, Jack, is to put together a team and get to the bottom of this.

“Any restrictions on who I choose?” asked Jack.

“Yeah, this can’t be traced back to SHIELD or the Avengers,” said Fury. “So anyone you pick can’t be associated with either of those organizations.”

“You’re asking for trouble with this, Fury.”

“I know, but someone’s been manipulating things from behind the scenes for almost a century and I wanna know who.”

“I’ll do what I can,” said Jack.

Washington, DC

Josiah stood looking up at the Washington Monument. The last time he had been here, he listened to Martin Luther King speak. And now he found himself here again. It was almost surreal how much—and how little—things had changed in that amount of time.

A hand clasped his shoulder. Josiah saw Steve Rogers standing by his side, also looking out at the Monument. “It’s a new one,” he said. “Under Noh-Varr’s control, we almost destroyed it.”

“Reassuring,” said Josiah.

“I just want you to know what this life is like, what the consequences are,” said Steve. “And also, I wanted you to know that just because it’s not the original doesn’t change the significance.”

“This is a big day for you,” said Josiah. “There’s a lot that’s happened. Are you sure people are ready for this?”

“People are rarely ever ready for change,” said Steve. “But it doesn’t mean we have to wait for them.”

“Amen to that.”

“You’ve spent the past few weeks preparing for this and now you’re ready. I’m confident in that,” said Steve. “Are you?”

“I don’t know,” said Josiah. “But at least now, the truth about my father won’t be a rumor.”

Steve smiled. “Come on, let’s go. We’ve still got another few hours before they start arriving.

Thousands gathered in the nation’s capital to come in attendance to the speech scheduled by Captain America. The new President of the United States first arrived, issuing a short speech and ending it by introducing the Living Legend himself.

As Captain America descended the steps, decked out in full costume and with a red, white and blue shield strapped to his black, he was greeted with cheers and applause. He raised his hands with a smile to quiet down the crowd.

“Thank you,” he said. “There’s something very important I’ve come to discuss. In 1941, I volunteered to be the test subject and the first recipient of an experimental Super Soldier Serum. The intention was that this would make me the first of an army of Super Soldiers to take on the Axis Powers. The serum increased my strength, speed and stamina as well as slowed my aging. However, after my transformation, the serum was destroyed, its secrets lost forever as the result of Nazi spies. So I was the first and would most-likely be the only one to ever have been imbued with the Super Soldier Serum. That’s the story of Captain America, the story I knew and the story you have probably heard countless times over the years. There’s just one problem—the story is a lie.”

Gasps came from the crowd as Captain America continued to speak. “The truth is, the serum was first tested on those the government deemed expendable. Soldiers of color, who were experimented on and many of whom died as a result of their exposure to the unstable serum. There was only one survivor, a man whose legend lives on in rumor—Isaiah Bradley. He was, in reality, the first Captain America. And for decades, he has gone without recognition for his brave service to his country. I’m here to right that wrong.

“Isaiah Bradley was a true patriot, a man who deserved far better treatment than he received. His bravery, his conviction and his dedication to his country are exemplary qualities. Not even when he was at the mercy of his enemies, threatened with torture if he didn’t denounce his country, did he even consider blinking. Isaiah Bradley was the first Captain America and he has more than earned his place in history.

“And this brings me to the other reason why I called you all here today. As I said, I became Captain America in 1941 and before the war ended, I became literally frozen in time before I was revived by the Avengers around fifteen years ago. I woke up to a world very different from the one I grew up in. I’ve lived up to my duties and I’ve continued to serve my country. But there comes a time when everyone must retire. And I’m here to say that my time is now.

“I know some of you may be asking how this world can live without Captain America. Fortunately, you won’t have to find out. I have found a new Captain America, one who represents this country’s mixed heritage and history and will serve you will in the coming years.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to the son of Isaiah Bradley, Josiah X—the new Captain America!”

Josiah stepped out, dressed in a similar, yet slightly different costume from Steve’s. Applause came from the crowd, although not as loud as for Steve. Once he reached the podium, Steve shook Josiah’s hand and then removed the shield from his back. He held it out and handed it to his successor.

The Damocles Chamber

Several men watched the events unfold on the television screen. “Turn it off,” said one of them. “We’ve seen enough.”

“So now the world knows the truth of Weapon I and, thanks to Rogers’ efforts, Weapon VI as well.”

“We can prove it’s false.”

“No amount of proof will matter, not to the public. Not when Captain freaking America came out and said this is how it is. And even worse, he endorsed Weapon VI.”

“Bradley or X or whatever the hell he calls himself won’t be a problem. He’s no Rogers. He’s a black Muslim draped in the American flag—how do you think that will play with the less tolerant segments of the population?”

“He defeated the Taskmaster and he’s spent the past few weeks being trained by Rogers. He’ll prove troublesome.”

“We can deal with it. Remember, my friends—we’re the ones in control.”