"Captain Rogers…"
The blonde woman tried to soothe Captain America's mood while secretly pressing an alarm button.
"Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Captain America cut her off, his voice low and commanding.
Clang!
At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and two fully armed soldiers walked in expressionlessly.
But in the next instant...
Boom!A huge hole was smashed in the wall as Captain America forcefully knocked those two soldiers over.
Taking advantage of the moment, Captain America rushed out.
"All agents, alert! Emergency information, emergency information!"
The blonde woman grabbed the walkie-talkie urgently, her voice blasting through the entire base's broadcast system.
Everyone who encountered Captain America rushed forward to stop him, trying to keep him inside the base.
But with Captain America's superhuman physical abilities at their peak, the ordinary agents were powerless; he easily broke through and dashed outside.
Beep beep beep!Car horns blared on the street.
Towering skyscrapers filled the view, neon lights flashing wildly in a dazzling array of colors. All this sensory overload hammered at Captain America's nerves, his brain struggling to process it.
He was utterly bewildered — Where am I? What is this place?As he looked around at this utterly unfamiliar and surreal environment, several cars circled and stopped around him.
A large group of people jumped out, blocking his way.
"Relax, soldier!"
A voice came from behind Captain America.
He turned his head to see a one-eyed man in a black trench coat walking toward him.
"Listen, I'm sorry about the little performance, but…"Nick Fury stepped in front of Captain America, "we thought it's better for you to slowly accept all this."
"Accept what?"Captain America asked, confused.
"You've been asleep, Captain, nearly seventy years!"Nick Fury said seriously.
Instinctively, Captain America found it hard to believe, but seeing the utterly strange world around him — so far beyond his time — he reluctantly accepted it.
This bald man was probably telling the truth; he really had slept for seventy years.
If that was true...
His expression darkened — would he never see Peggy Carter again? They had promised to dance together at the Stork Club!
"Captain, are you okay?"Nick Fury asked after waiting for Captain America to digest the news.
"I'm fine, but…"Captain America said with a heavy sigh, full of sadness and regret, "I missed a date."
"Captain, you missed more than just a date. You've missed a lot in seventy years."Nick Fury gestured invitingly, "Let me slowly fill you in."
After a brief pause, Captain America followed Nick Fury back inside the base.
…
"So… we won the war?"
"Hydra was destroyed seventy years ago?"
In a luxurious office,
Nick Fury and Captain America sat facing each other, with Nick Fury explaining what happened after Captain America was lost at sea.
Hearing about the sacrifices and struggles that led to victory brought Captain America some relief.
But it was immediately followed by a deep sense of alienation and helplessness — he had slept seventy years, and the world had changed beyond recognition.
It was no longer the world he knew.
To this new world, Captain America was like a visitor. Although it was the world he fought for, he felt no belonging.
He felt deeply lost — unsure where to go, or where home really was.
"By the way, Captain, there's some good news — Peggy Carter is still alive."
Understanding Captain America's state of mind, Nick Fury shared some hope.
"Really? You're not lying?"
Sure enough, Captain America's eyes lit up instantly, his spirits lifted with joy and excitement. "She's still alive?"
"Yes, although now she has gray hair, a lover, and children — but yes, she's still alive."
Nick Fury nodded, then suggested, "If you want to see her, my people can take you."
"No, no need."Captain America waved his hand immediately.
He did want to see Peggy, but he wasn't ready yet.
He hadn't even fully accepted that he'd slept seventy years, let alone face his first love with gray hair.
Knock knock knock!
Just then, the office door was knocked on, and Agent Hill appeared in their line of sight.
"Sir, Tony Stark is here."Agent Hill reported to Nick Fury.
"Stark?"Nick Fury blinked in surprise, then showed a tired, helpless expression.
He had never told Iron Man about this base or Captain America's recovery, yet Iron Man showed up the moment Captain America woke up.
What did that mean?That guy had been secretly watching S.H.I.E.L.D. all along!
And boldly invading S.H.I.E.L.D.!
That damn guy!
As S.H.I.E.L.D.'s director, Nick Fury was beyond frustrated.
If he could, he'd send agents to grab Iron Man and show him that S.H.I.E.L.D. was no playground for him to mess around.
But Nick Fury knew it was impossible — Iron Man was one of their own, and S.H.I.E.L.D. still needed him for many things.
Besides enduring it, Nick Fury had no other option.
"Bring him in."
He sighed and waved to Agent Hill.
Shortly after, Iron Man, dressed casually with sunglasses and an arrogant smirk, swaggered into the office.
"Ah, Captain America, didn't expect you'd actually come back to life."
Iron Man acted like he was at home, plopping down on the sofa and crossing his legs.
"For a seventy-year-old guy who's been asleep, your spirit isn't bad."
(End of chapter)