Second Sphere

Stop the car

"I think we stand a much better chance if we all just-" John starts.

Bucky cuts him off, "Just cause you carry that shield, it doesn't mean you're Captain America."

"Look, I've done the work, okay?" John says and I roll my eyes.

"You ever jump on top of a grenade?" Bucky asks.

"Yeah. Actually I have. Four times. It's this thing I do with my helmet. It's a reinforced helmet. It's a long story, but, any-. Look, it's 20 miles to the airport. You guys need a ride. Guys. Gary, stop. Get in." The truck stops.

I fold my wings into my body and we all squeeze into the back of the jeep. John and Lemar on one side, with Sam Bucky and myself squished shoulder to shoulder on the other.

"Could she always do that?" John asks pointing at me.

"Yeah." I respond bluntly.

He shakes his head, "Okay, so we've got eight super soldiers on a bulk supply run. Why?"

Sam speaks up first, "They say their mission is to get things back to the way it was during the blip. Maybe they're just trying to help."

"They gotta funny way of showing it." Bucky interjects.

"Sometimes people do what they think is right but they go about it the wrong way." I tell him reflecting on my own mistakes.

"That serum doesn't exactly have a great track record. No offense." Walker looks at us both.

Neither of us say anything and I just purse my lips while Bucky stares him down.

"We need to figure out where they're going. How's a you track 'em here? The flag smashers?" Sam asks Walker.

"Uh, no, we didn't track them, we tracked you, uh through redwing." Lemar explains, having the decency to at least seem embarrassed.

"You hacked my tech?" Sam asks clearly irritated.

John chuckles, "Sorry. It's not exactly hacking. It's government property." John gestures at himself, "kind of the government."

The absolute hubris of this man is astounding. I raise my eyebrows in disbelief at what I'm hearing. When none of us say anything he looks between the three of us.

"Does he always just stare like that?" John aka, referencing Bucky's cold glare.

"You get used to it." Sam says glancing at Bucky.

"Okay look," John clears his throat, "you know, things have gotten kind of, uh-"

"Chaotic" Lemar suggests.

"Yeah. The GRC they're doing the best they can to get things up and running smoothly post blip." John starts.

"Reactivating citizenship, social security, healthcare. Basically just managing resources for the refugees who were displaced by the return."

"Are they really refugees who were just "displaced"? These people called these places, these countries home for five years." I butt in.

Sam glances at me but goes on to talk. "The Global Repatriation Council does all that. I get that. So why exactly are you two here?"

"Well, they provide the resources and we keep things stable." Lemar says.

"Yeah, violent revolutionaries aren't usually good for anyone's cause." Walker states.

"Usually said by the people with the resources." Sam counters.

"Well we got a lot of resources." Walker continues. "If you guys, if you joined up with us, we could-"

"No." Bucky interjects, having none of it.

"I got mad respect for all three of you, but you were kind of getting your asses kicked till we showed up." Lemar says.

"Who are you?" Bucky asks.

"Lemar Hoskins." He explains.

"Look, I see a guy hanging out of a helicopter in tactical gear, I need a lot more than Lemar Hoskins."

"I'm Battlestar. John's partner." Lemar tells Sam.

I grimace. Mm. Not a great choice. I'm sure it reminds Bucky of the star he used to have on his arm, and with this being the new Captain America and partner duo, he's staring at his replacement. Back before hydra it was Steve and Bucky, now it's John and Lemar.

"Battlestar?" Bucky asks before yelling, "Stop the car!"

As the car stops, Bucky motions for me to get out and I do. Bucky walks off while I stand near the truck, Sam still inside.