Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot… part 2

He has traveled close to two miles on foot, once in a while checking his GPS, equally marveling, not for the first time, at the concept. ‘Seeing your coordinates relative to the world – how’d they come up with this? In the old days, we simply relied on a compass, map-reading and orienteering by morning and sometimes just interpreting one’s nautical location based on the stars at night time. Maps like these were printed on large rolls of paper or were drawn painstakingly on walls or large tables.’ - recalling many strategic sessions with Cap and his other companions in the Invaders – granted, there were times that both he and Toro were not included in those ‘grown-up’ tactical sessions at Lord Falsworth’s library, but they found ways to eavesdrop. He smiles at the image of how he and Toro would alternate with the glass pressed against the door. ‘Simple yet effective.’ he thinks, somehow those were fun days.

Now they had listening devices – a hundred times smaller than the ones he vaguely remembers using when he was studying a target for Lukin, – yet, certainly, much more powerful. Then there’s this GPS – he remembers Natalia’s playful smile as she taught him all about its functionalities… “James, maps aren’t printed on paper – at least not for our purposes… we use Global Positioning Devices now.”

Obviously amused at his confusion, she proceeded to demonstrate the use of one by way of an Internet café and a computer. Again, he remembered his silent reaction – after all, he could recall visiting a room full of vacuum tubes – this with Cap and they were told the entire building wing was a computer. He then asked the army intelligence specialist what it was for – and was frankly told that it was to help calculate speed and trajectory for dropping bombs into Hitler’s strongholds. Now here he is, wearing a computer by his wrist.

He checks his progress and feels relief knowing that his destination is just over the tree lines he can see ahead about 300 feet. He scans the horizon, seeking anything not belonging in the topography – after all, this close to Latveria, he wouldn’t be surprised if this Doctor Doom would be monitoring his borders. Back on the transport, Natalia brought up Doom’s dossier – and what he read made him realize that this is one person he would best keep his distance with. ‘A darker version of Tony Stark, to say the least – a mystic, and a despot to boot. What doesn’t this guy know?’ Well, forewarned, forearmed.

Then he sees him – standing alone, wearing a blue and yellow suit, looking regal – even in this non-watery environment. Bucky raises his hand, and Namor simply makes a short glide towards him and Bucky thinks, ‘How does he fly with those wings?’ It’s always been a question he wanted to ask, but found no real ‘right time’ to do so.

“This is getting to be a habit…” showing a frown – which Bucky knows is more for show than serious irritation. “When last we talked, I though I made it clear that you cannot assume that I…” he stops, raising an eyebrow – noticing the Star at the center of Bucky’s chest, as well as the White and Red stripes below the star, in a ‘V’-like formation. Bucky segues into the silence “I’ve been busy”, Namor raises an eyebrow, “So it seems – and yet, I also notice a sidearm. Is this why you wanted to see me?” Bucky nods – “Partly, I felt that I owed you and everyone else close to Cap an explanation”

Namor looks evenly at Bucky… “Steve…”

“What?”

“You said Cap… but obviously, you have taken the colors and the identity. If this is to work, ts time you get used to calling yourself Captain America, and refer to Steve as himself whenever you become sentimental. If anything else, it becomes less confusing for anyone listening to your conversation. More importantly, you need to own the image”

“Okay,” Bucky says. “I’ll take that under consideration – you know, I never pegged you as an image-consultant… that is what they call themselves these days, right? Namor simply answers matter of factly, “I used to run a corporation – one of my more recent forays in corporate America and one of the many things I had to contend with was both corporate and personal imaging. I even – to my better judgment, conceded to wearing a suit”

“I see…” replies, Bucky. Noting the seriousness in Namor’s tone – with exception to the ‘suit’ remark. “Okay, I’ll think about what you said, and…” Showing sudden impatience, Namor interjects him mid-sentence, “No you will not! You will do it!”

Namor sighs, “Buck… James, you should realize that being Captain America is more than the costume – it is an identity and a symbol. When I first met Steve in uniform, I though it was just an outwardly colorful – if not patriotically gaudy costume. Overly dramatic and its over-all impact relatively non-threatening – and never mind what I thought of your old costume… but Steve made me realize that he was more than an overzealous soldier in flag colors. He turned that ridiculous costume into a real symbol of freedom, becoming an anti-thesis to ideals represented by Nazism”

“What does this have to do with…”

“I’m not done!… Captain America is always decisive… never hesitant! He had to inspire and lead. If you will be wearing that uniform, the way to respect his legacy and keep the memory of Captain America is to emulate his leadership capabilities – not just his fighting skills.”

Bucky looks intently at Namor for a few moments, weighing the words – then he smiles, to the confusion of the latter. “What do you find amusing?” Namor demands, “Steve…” replies Bucky, “Use the ‘memory of Steve’. I’m Captain America now – and you’re right, I’m still getting used to the idea of calling myself such and being referred to by that name…” Removing the trench-coat he had been wearing, thus revealing the uniform completely to Namor, Bucky continues. “You can see though, I’ve added a few design changes. I’ll honor Steve’s memory – but I won’t replace him.”

Namor, looks at the over-all effect, absorbing the over all the changes “Less gaudy, perhaps – but still symbolic… yet darker” and then he focuses on the cylindrical shield behind this new Captain America. “That shield,” he can’t help but noticing it, “Is that the original one?”

Looking pleased, Bucky, un-straps the, shield from his back, and confirms Namor’s observation.“Yup!, I though that Tony Stark wouldn’t just let it get buried with Steve, and he wouldn’t just put it in a museum – so I tracked its whereabouts, and – well, lets just say I liberated it.” This brings a smile to Namor – “Intriguing… still, good to know you have it. I suspected as much when I was asked by Stark to choose Steve’s resting place beneath the Artic.”

“About that… Namor, would it be possible to bring me there one day? I mean, unless you’ve got some agreement with Tony…”

Bucky notices a flash of anger comes across Namor’s face, as he comments “Stark and I are not in speaking terms these days, and even if we had such an agreement, I would think that you fall within the exception to such a rule – I’m sure Steve would agree that you are one exception, though I must warn you that the depth is nothing to sneeze about – you will definitely need a submersible if you intend to visit our friends”

The plural use does not escape Captain America, he thinks for a while, then states, “So you placed Steve with…. Jim?”. Namor nods, “What little I could find.” After he exploded over the arctic I tried finding him, but only found scattered parts. It may be possible that others have taken his body – after all, its not as if he really died. He got revived once, he could possibly be revived again.”

“So what was at Dymhurst? I mean, I read the articles…” “An L.M.D., courtesy of the V-batallion.” Namor explains, “We could not recover everything… and we needed to present a body for his funeral. Plus, we needed to make sure no one tried to steal him again, like the Mad Thinker did, all those years ago.

Namor starts walking south, and beckons Bucky to accompany him. “Where we going?” Bucky asks. Namor points the opposite direction from where he came from… “Farther from the Latverian border.”

Further explaining as they both move, Namor continues… “During my lone moments here, I discovered an inn, quaint, quiet and surprisingly well stocked – plus, it sits overlooking a lake… my kind of a vacation spot… peaceful and near a great body of water. I thought we might as well continue this talk in a more relaxing environment.”

“Besides… though we are allies out of shared convenience, I do not fully trust Doom to leave our conversation in private. I may be his guest for now, but our history is hardly ideal to trust. As it is, I already disabled quite a few of his transceivers. I’m sure some of his robots will patrol that area to investigate real soon. We might as well move to talk elsewhere, lest I be forced to further strain my welcome status.”

“Alright…”

“And one more thing… you are footing the bill.”

“What?”

Namor looks at him, deadpan serious – but if experience all those years ago has taught Bucky anything, he knows this is another ‘show’ face... complete with raised eyebrows “You came here to get my approval or permission, did you not? – you might as well continue by paying for this little celebration.” Bucky stops. “Now hold on. Who said I was looking for your approval?” It is a rare occasion to see Namor smile, and this time is no exception – more so because of its unexpectedness.

“James, how long have we known each other? Amongst everyone in the surface world currently alive, I would say that you know me best, and Winter Soldier experience not withstanding, I think that I can certainly say the same of you.” Namor stops walking to face Bucky fully, pointing a finger to his chest “You needed acceptance, approval and confirmation that you’re not making a big mistake in taking the mantle Steve left. I just did that for you, and now, as you surface dwellers as so fond of saying, you owe me for that.”

Looking bemused, Bucky states, “You’ve really changed, Namor…”, “We both had, lad.”, and noting Bucky’s own raised eye brow, he confirms his last statement. “… but Captain America uniform aside, I still see you as that gawdy-dressed young man, eager to please his mentor… seeking acceptance into a team he was so thrilled to be a part of”

“The Invaders…” Bucky confirms. “Yes, that group – it certainly isn’t the All-winners squad!” snaps Namor, impatience once again rising… but when he sees a blank on Bucky’s face, he realizes “Of course you don’t know them… I’m talking way past your involvement in the war.” Pressing a hidden device in his costume, Namor de-cloaks an Atlantean ship a few meters away. “My apologies, James… but there was, as you know, a need to replace both Steve and you during the closing days of the war. We – that it, the Invaders, understood, but we didn’t feel it was right, and a few months later we disbanded – and with the Euroupean theatre closing, it gave us a convenient excuse.”

“Anyway – lets talk more when we get to that quaint inn.” Won’t the owners feel worried about you dropping in unannounced?” Bucky asks. To which Namor shrugs “Had they been reluctant those past weeks, I’m sure they would have said so, when they accepted my offer to buy their place – you see James, old habits die… this one, the habit of buying-into what I like, I learned in my stint at corporate America.

Walking in, Bucky says, “Yeah… about your wearing a suit…”