Bernie Rosenthal had seemingly many free time on her hands, when she wasn’t too busy with her occupation as a professional glass blower, and made it a point to try and catch Steve whenever he seemed not to be too busy with his freelance work as well – of course, she had no idea who Steve really was, and Steve was not yet ready to share his dual identity with others.
Bernie found Steve’s taste in music, plays and even movies rather dated and possibly considered him a walking anachronism – but she could not deny her attraction to him, and thus ignored his, sometimes, quirky – “I’ve got to leave and do some work to catch a deadline” excuses from him. She would even help out and clean his apartment while he had gone to England to visit some relations.
Her friends were possibly pairing her with Steve up, knowing that she was coming from a failed marriage, and felt that Steve seemed nice enough for Bernie. After meeting Steve, she would invite him for breakfast when she noticed him literally working what seemed to be an all-nighter project, and naturally – upon entering Steve’s pad, our very observant Ms. Rosenthal would spy a picture of Sharon Carter with Steve during their happier days – she inquired, and when Bernie realized that Sharon was an old and dearly departed flame, she saw the possible reason why Steve seemed to have a wall between him and any woman (in this case, Bernie of course) he was getting close to. Of course, what Bernie did not know was what Steve’s travel to England was about and who his visiting relations were.
Steve had earlier received a letter from none other than the Lord of Falsworth manor, James Montgomery, requesting his – or in this case, Cap’s presence, though in a discreet manner. James, was of course, none other than the original British WWI and WWII fighter / hero – the Union jack, whom Steve and the rest of his colleagues in the Invaders, had the privilege to fight side-by-side with in their first year as the Invaders, and Falsworth manor, the Invader’s base of operations when they were in England.. This reunion of WWII heroes however was not a social call, and no matter how nostalgic seeing the mansion was, Steve had time for reminiscing.
Most notable was of course the reason they had fought together during said war – and that was to stop a Nazi vampire saboteur named baron Blood, who later – the group discovered to be Lord Falsworth’s younger brother, John. Apparently, there were some bloody killings happening in the English countryside, and Lord Falsworth believed it was the work of a revived baron Blood.
But Lord Falsworth was already old – not to mention a cripple, having lost his legs in said battle against baron Blood back in the war. Jaqueline, his daughter – who later became the heroine known as Spitfire, through a desperate blood transfusion with Jim Hammond (the Human Torch), was likewise old and her powers of speed had long abandoned her.
It was therefore up to Cap alone to try and see if there was indeed the possibility that baron Blood was alive and active (as Jackie thought her father to be delusional, and getting senile – imagining Blood’s return), and if so – stop the vampire Steve had some help in this regard – Kenneth, who happened to be Jackie’s son, brought a friend along – a relatively athletic Joey Chapman, and Joey volunteered to play bait – pretending to be the frail Lord Falsworth in Unionjack costume, awaiting the arrival of Baron Blood.
True enough, the Baron arrived – nearly choked Joey to death, upon realizing that it was a ruse, and nearly bit into Captain America’s jugular – had it not been for Cap’s thin chain-mail around his neck, which the Baron’s teeth could not sink into. Cap eventually had to decapitate the Baron’s head off – by using his shield. Lord Falsworth died that day, and an era of greatness ended. The identity, costume and weapons of Unionjack, would of apparently be given to Joey, by way of appreciation and recognition of the Falsqworth family for his help in the Baron Blood incident – specially since Kenneth did not seem in any way interested in continuing the family ‘tradition’.
Steve returned to the United States wondering if that was the last he’d see of any WWII villain. Unknown to him, Arnim Zola – a famous Nazi geneticist, had cloned Captain America’s body, and had transferred the persona of Johann Schmidt into it before the Red Skull had died after his last attempt to kill defeat Steve Rogers failed. The Skull’s reason for being in suspended animation, apparently was failing and it aged him to his actual ‘age’ had the suspended animation not happen – he then aged Steve as well and they fought – aged as they were, as Schmidt was hoping that Steve’s would kill him (can you imagine two octogenarians squaring off with each other?), and thus defile Steve’s belief system. But Steve prevailed, did not kill the Skull and the Skull died with hatred. Enter Zola and the cloned body.
Having this new and greatly athletic body gave Schmidt a new outlook in life – rather than concentrate on renewing his efforts to topple the American government down, he would work from the inside and accumulate power and influence for his own plans. The Red Skull would work on the inside, rather than attack from the outside.
Meanwhile, Steve and Bernie continued where they’d left off – and during this time, Bernie did get to know Steve – the person, a lot better though their dates… or at least, definitely good enough to recognize Steve, when listening to him (as Captain America), Bernie was invited by her ex-husband to listen and possibly join an anti-Nazi side rally, unfortunately, a pro-Nazi force likewise showed up and things came to a boil real fast. Captain America, intervened and in one of those ‘corny but inspiring speeches’ that Cap seems to be recognized for (at least, from Spider-man’s viewpoint) Bernie realized that the ideas seemed familiar and the voice was very distinct – she became aware that the man behind the mask was actually Steve Rogers.
This information did not affect how Bernie saw Steve – at least, in any negative manner. In fact, as they got closer to each other, it was actually Bernie who proposed marriage to Steve – and Steve actually accepted. But before they could plan further, the economy got bad and Bernie probably realized that their income would not be enough to settle themselves down. She decided to continue her studies, pursuing a course in law – but she likewise decided to take the course off-state, perhaps to see if they were both doing the right thing, and testing if their relationship would indeed be strong enough to handle the distance… apparently, it did not, and sometime later the two ended their engagement.
Meanwhile, Schmidt knew that he could not get to Steve Rogers, so he did the next best thing – conceive a way to destroy the hard-earned image of Captain America. He then orchestrated a plot to remove Steve Rogers from being Captain America, and replaced him with a more jingoistic – though still patriotic and right-minded John Walker. This new Captain America was slightly more rugged but he played well to being the hero… to live up to the image of Captain America.
Unable to be Captain America, Steve opted to have a stylized black, white and red costume made and called himself the Captain. He needed a shield and asked Tony Stark’s help – unknowingly letting Tony find a way to hopefully bribe him into staying in the sidelines during Iron Man’s Armor Wars. When Steve realized what the shield was – he returned it to Tony Stark, along with a strained friendship.
The Captain next appeared side by side with the Avengers to battle the Ultimate Adaptiod wielding a cosmic cube, with a little help from a now sentient and relatively mature cosmic cube (the one once held by the Red Skull), Steve suddenly found himself in the midst of the Adaptoid and defeated him with logical reasoning that Hank Pym might have been proud of.
It would be a few days later that the Captain, while hanging around Hydrobase, would chance to meet Thor and help him stave off a pantheon invasion. Prior to this, Thor would naturally question Cap about his new uniform – his first reaction, assault the government for the injustice done Thor’s friend. But the thunderer would notbe as quick to action when Steve related his current rift with Tony Stark. You have to remember that though Thor recognized and respected Cap, he was likewise a comrade and long time friend and confidant of Tony Stark’s secret as Iron Man.
It would be at this instance that the invasion came and during this same battle that Thor and his hammer would be separated, and knowing that the Thunder God needed the use of Mjolnir, if the tides of battle would ever turn , the Captain would – as an act of desperation, grab the hammer and wield it!
Wait… I believe this is worth repeating… Steve Rogers, the mortal, was worthy of lifting and wielding Mjolnir – scattering all the Egyptian pantheon army – and tossing Mjolnir back to Thor.
Again, to let everyone know the significance of what Cap did… please remember that no mortal had yet to lift the hammer of Thor, with exception to Odin and a particular alien, who was likewise worthy. As Odin’s magic, tempered by wisdom and patience would specify, one had to be worthy to wield Mjolnir, and until this very instance only Thor, Odin and of course Beta Ray Bill, had shared this privilege. So for Steve Rogers to do just that (wiled Mjolnir) even for a brief time, was proof that he was indeed a worthy person – and in so doing, the Captain won Thor over his arguments and trust against Tony Stark.
Meanwhile, to prevent Walker from doing a good job as a replacement Captain America, The Skull arranged to have John Walker’s parents killed thus causing something in this Captain America to snap. Walker started killing people as part of his manner for defending America’s ideals, and the man was getting to be uncontrollable - naturally, Steve Rogers had to intervene.
As Steve and John were fighting, the Red Skull appears – as Steve Rogers and gloats about his plan having worked and how the name and image of Captain America had been defamed and destroyed through his machinations. Steve noticed that this man wearing his face and claiming to be the Skull was not inhaling his cigarette (through pipe) smoke and before he could act further on it, Walker – who had likewise heard the Skull’s boastings, hit him from behind with the shield – causing the red dust (a favorite face disfiguring, coloring, and quick-acting poison) which was hidden I the pipe, to activate and actually go to Schmidt’s face.
Schmidt escaped with his face disfigured and Steve Rogers got his identity as Captain America back from a remorseful John Walker.
Next: Under Siege, Diamondback, Sharon returns and Exile
Bernie found Steve’s taste in music, plays and even movies rather dated and possibly considered him a walking anachronism – but she could not deny her attraction to him, and thus ignored his, sometimes, quirky – “I’ve got to leave and do some work to catch a deadline” excuses from him. She would even help out and clean his apartment while he had gone to England to visit some relations.
Her friends were possibly pairing her with Steve up, knowing that she was coming from a failed marriage, and felt that Steve seemed nice enough for Bernie. After meeting Steve, she would invite him for breakfast when she noticed him literally working what seemed to be an all-nighter project, and naturally – upon entering Steve’s pad, our very observant Ms. Rosenthal would spy a picture of Sharon Carter with Steve during their happier days – she inquired, and when Bernie realized that Sharon was an old and dearly departed flame, she saw the possible reason why Steve seemed to have a wall between him and any woman (in this case, Bernie of course) he was getting close to. Of course, what Bernie did not know was what Steve’s travel to England was about and who his visiting relations were.
Steve had earlier received a letter from none other than the Lord of Falsworth manor, James Montgomery, requesting his – or in this case, Cap’s presence, though in a discreet manner. James, was of course, none other than the original British WWI and WWII fighter / hero – the Union jack, whom Steve and the rest of his colleagues in the Invaders, had the privilege to fight side-by-side with in their first year as the Invaders, and Falsworth manor, the Invader’s base of operations when they were in England.. This reunion of WWII heroes however was not a social call, and no matter how nostalgic seeing the mansion was, Steve had time for reminiscing.
Most notable was of course the reason they had fought together during said war – and that was to stop a Nazi vampire saboteur named baron Blood, who later – the group discovered to be Lord Falsworth’s younger brother, John. Apparently, there were some bloody killings happening in the English countryside, and Lord Falsworth believed it was the work of a revived baron Blood.
But Lord Falsworth was already old – not to mention a cripple, having lost his legs in said battle against baron Blood back in the war. Jaqueline, his daughter – who later became the heroine known as Spitfire, through a desperate blood transfusion with Jim Hammond (the Human Torch), was likewise old and her powers of speed had long abandoned her.
It was therefore up to Cap alone to try and see if there was indeed the possibility that baron Blood was alive and active (as Jackie thought her father to be delusional, and getting senile – imagining Blood’s return), and if so – stop the vampire Steve had some help in this regard – Kenneth, who happened to be Jackie’s son, brought a friend along – a relatively athletic Joey Chapman, and Joey volunteered to play bait – pretending to be the frail Lord Falsworth in Unionjack costume, awaiting the arrival of Baron Blood.
True enough, the Baron arrived – nearly choked Joey to death, upon realizing that it was a ruse, and nearly bit into Captain America’s jugular – had it not been for Cap’s thin chain-mail around his neck, which the Baron’s teeth could not sink into. Cap eventually had to decapitate the Baron’s head off – by using his shield. Lord Falsworth died that day, and an era of greatness ended. The identity, costume and weapons of Unionjack, would of apparently be given to Joey, by way of appreciation and recognition of the Falsqworth family for his help in the Baron Blood incident – specially since Kenneth did not seem in any way interested in continuing the family ‘tradition’.
Steve returned to the United States wondering if that was the last he’d see of any WWII villain. Unknown to him, Arnim Zola – a famous Nazi geneticist, had cloned Captain America’s body, and had transferred the persona of Johann Schmidt into it before the Red Skull had died after his last attempt to kill defeat Steve Rogers failed. The Skull’s reason for being in suspended animation, apparently was failing and it aged him to his actual ‘age’ had the suspended animation not happen – he then aged Steve as well and they fought – aged as they were, as Schmidt was hoping that Steve’s would kill him (can you imagine two octogenarians squaring off with each other?), and thus defile Steve’s belief system. But Steve prevailed, did not kill the Skull and the Skull died with hatred. Enter Zola and the cloned body.
Having this new and greatly athletic body gave Schmidt a new outlook in life – rather than concentrate on renewing his efforts to topple the American government down, he would work from the inside and accumulate power and influence for his own plans. The Red Skull would work on the inside, rather than attack from the outside.
Meanwhile, Steve and Bernie continued where they’d left off – and during this time, Bernie did get to know Steve – the person, a lot better though their dates… or at least, definitely good enough to recognize Steve, when listening to him (as Captain America), Bernie was invited by her ex-husband to listen and possibly join an anti-Nazi side rally, unfortunately, a pro-Nazi force likewise showed up and things came to a boil real fast. Captain America, intervened and in one of those ‘corny but inspiring speeches’ that Cap seems to be recognized for (at least, from Spider-man’s viewpoint) Bernie realized that the ideas seemed familiar and the voice was very distinct – she became aware that the man behind the mask was actually Steve Rogers.
This information did not affect how Bernie saw Steve – at least, in any negative manner. In fact, as they got closer to each other, it was actually Bernie who proposed marriage to Steve – and Steve actually accepted. But before they could plan further, the economy got bad and Bernie probably realized that their income would not be enough to settle themselves down. She decided to continue her studies, pursuing a course in law – but she likewise decided to take the course off-state, perhaps to see if they were both doing the right thing, and testing if their relationship would indeed be strong enough to handle the distance… apparently, it did not, and sometime later the two ended their engagement.
Meanwhile, Schmidt knew that he could not get to Steve Rogers, so he did the next best thing – conceive a way to destroy the hard-earned image of Captain America. He then orchestrated a plot to remove Steve Rogers from being Captain America, and replaced him with a more jingoistic – though still patriotic and right-minded John Walker. This new Captain America was slightly more rugged but he played well to being the hero… to live up to the image of Captain America.
Unable to be Captain America, Steve opted to have a stylized black, white and red costume made and called himself the Captain. He needed a shield and asked Tony Stark’s help – unknowingly letting Tony find a way to hopefully bribe him into staying in the sidelines during Iron Man’s Armor Wars. When Steve realized what the shield was – he returned it to Tony Stark, along with a strained friendship.
The Captain next appeared side by side with the Avengers to battle the Ultimate Adaptiod wielding a cosmic cube, with a little help from a now sentient and relatively mature cosmic cube (the one once held by the Red Skull), Steve suddenly found himself in the midst of the Adaptoid and defeated him with logical reasoning that Hank Pym might have been proud of.
It would be a few days later that the Captain, while hanging around Hydrobase, would chance to meet Thor and help him stave off a pantheon invasion. Prior to this, Thor would naturally question Cap about his new uniform – his first reaction, assault the government for the injustice done Thor’s friend. But the thunderer would notbe as quick to action when Steve related his current rift with Tony Stark. You have to remember that though Thor recognized and respected Cap, he was likewise a comrade and long time friend and confidant of Tony Stark’s secret as Iron Man.
It would be at this instance that the invasion came and during this same battle that Thor and his hammer would be separated, and knowing that the Thunder God needed the use of Mjolnir, if the tides of battle would ever turn , the Captain would – as an act of desperation, grab the hammer and wield it!
Wait… I believe this is worth repeating… Steve Rogers, the mortal, was worthy of lifting and wielding Mjolnir – scattering all the Egyptian pantheon army – and tossing Mjolnir back to Thor.
Again, to let everyone know the significance of what Cap did… please remember that no mortal had yet to lift the hammer of Thor, with exception to Odin and a particular alien, who was likewise worthy. As Odin’s magic, tempered by wisdom and patience would specify, one had to be worthy to wield Mjolnir, and until this very instance only Thor, Odin and of course Beta Ray Bill, had shared this privilege. So for Steve Rogers to do just that (wiled Mjolnir) even for a brief time, was proof that he was indeed a worthy person – and in so doing, the Captain won Thor over his arguments and trust against Tony Stark.
Meanwhile, to prevent Walker from doing a good job as a replacement Captain America, The Skull arranged to have John Walker’s parents killed thus causing something in this Captain America to snap. Walker started killing people as part of his manner for defending America’s ideals, and the man was getting to be uncontrollable - naturally, Steve Rogers had to intervene.
As Steve and John were fighting, the Red Skull appears – as Steve Rogers and gloats about his plan having worked and how the name and image of Captain America had been defamed and destroyed through his machinations. Steve noticed that this man wearing his face and claiming to be the Skull was not inhaling his cigarette (through pipe) smoke and before he could act further on it, Walker – who had likewise heard the Skull’s boastings, hit him from behind with the shield – causing the red dust (a favorite face disfiguring, coloring, and quick-acting poison) which was hidden I the pipe, to activate and actually go to Schmidt’s face.
Schmidt escaped with his face disfigured and Steve Rogers got his identity as Captain America back from a remorseful John Walker.
Next: Under Siege, Diamondback, Sharon returns and Exile
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