Northern Arctic Waters – aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. icebreaker
"Begin defrosting operations immediately!" Deputy Director Hill's voice trembled slightly as she stared at the frozen figure of Steve Rogers.
"Be careful not to damage his body."
Technicians hurriedly operated the machinery. A massive laser cutter hummed to life, slowly melting through the ice. After nearly two hours of painstaking work, Steve Rogers was finally freed.
"How are his vitals?" Hill asked the medical team.
"Heartbeat is weak but steady. Body temperature dangerously low but rising," the doctor reported after checking the monitors.
"It's incredible. The super-soldier serum really preserved him in the ice for seventy years."
Hill pulled out her communicator, her hands shaking.
"Director, we found him. Steve Rogers is alive."
Triskelion – Nick Fury's Office
"What? You actually found him?" Nick Fury shot up from his chair, disbelief flashing in his eye.
"Yes, Director. We're transporting him back to headquarters. ETA, six hours," Hill replied over comms.
Fury set down the communicator and turned to Coulson.
"Phil, did you hear that? That novel Voss wrote… it's real."
Coulson's face was just as stunned.
"Director, if the parts about Steve are true, then what about Hydra…?"
"Then that's true as well." Fury's tone darkened. "Phil, double surveillance on Voss. That man is not ordinary."
"Understood. Do we notify Secretary Pierce?" Coulson asked.
Fury was silent for a long moment.
"Not yet. The fewer people who know about this, the better—at least until we figure it out."
New York – Voss's Apartment
"Achoo!" Voss sneezed, rubbing his nose. "Great… someone must be talking about me."
"Probably your readers," Aqua teased, lounging on the sofa with the TV remote. "Your novel is so good, people can't stop thinking about it."
Voss rolled his eyes. "Readers? The book isn't even fully out yet. Oscar's still stalling with those so-called 'technical issues.'"
Tom suddenly darted to the window, ears perked, pointing outside with a grim expression.
"What is it, Tom?" Voss walked over, peering through the glass. "What's out there?"
Jerry joined in, squeaking furiously while pointing toward a dark figure crouched on the opposite rooftop.
Voss squinted. "That… looks like someone's watching us."
Artoria calmly set down her teacup. "Master, I sense it as well. There's someone keeping surveillance."
"Surveillance?" Voss blinked. "On me? Come on, I'm just a novelist. Who would waste time spying on me?"
"Could be fans," Aqua chimed in, leaning over his shoulder. "I heard some fans stalk people they admire."
"Fans? My book isn't even officially out yet," Voss muttered, though unease gnawed at him.
"Don't tell me S.H.I.E.L.D. actually took my little 'fun' writing seriously. But I'm just a nobody—they can't touch me. And if they even think about targeting my companions…" Voss glanced at Tom, Jerry, Aqua, and Artoria. "…let's see if their agents can handle them first."
The thought was enough to ease his nerves.
Opposite Rooftop
"Target may have noticed us," a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent whispered into his earpiece. "They're staring right this way."
"Stay calm. Maintain distance. Continue surveillance," Coulson ordered. "Log every unusual action."
"Sir, I need to stress this—something about his roommates is seriously off. That cat and mouse are… talking. And the cat just used tools like a person."
There was silence on the line.
"Sir? You there?"
"…Continue observation. Record everything," Coulson finally responded, his voice heavy.
The agent lowered his binoculars, suddenly aware this mission was going to be far stranger than expected.
Six Hours Later – Triskelion Medical Department
Steve Rogers lay on a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and IV lines. Doctors hovered around, running their final checks.
"Temperature is back to normal. Vitals are stable," the attending physician reported. "He could regain consciousness at any moment."
Nick Fury nodded, watching silently. The legendary Captain America—finally back.
Beside him, Coulson's voice carried a note of awe.
"Director… when he wakes up, how do we even explain this? It's been nearly seventy years. Everyone he knew…"
"One step at a time," Fury replied quietly. "First, let him adjust to the world he's in now."
Suddenly, the monitor beeped sharply. Steve's eyelids fluttered.
"He's waking up!" the doctor exclaimed.
Steve slowly opened his eyes, vision blurred, confusion filling his blue gaze as he scanned the unfamiliar ceiling and strange equipment.
"Where… where am I?" His voice was raspy, weak.
Nick Fury stepped forward.
"Steve Rogers. I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.—the modern successor of the Strategic Scientific Reserve you once served. Welcome to the 21st century, Captain."
Steve struggled to sit up.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Red Skull—the plane—what happened?"
"It's over," Fury said gently. "You stopped his plan. You saved millions."
Steve's brows knit. "How long… how long was I asleep?"
Fury and Coulson exchanged a glance.
"Steve," Fury said at last, "you've been asleep for a long time. It's the year 2007."
Steve froze, disbelief written across his face.
"Two-thousand and seven? You mean I was out… almost seventy years?"
"Yes," Fury confirmed. "The serum, plus the ice—it kept you alive."
For a long moment, Steve said nothing. Then quietly:
"Peggy… Howard… the others?"
Coulson's tone was heavy. "Captain… seventy years changes a lot. Mr. Howard Stark and his wife were lost in a car accident. Peggy Carter… she's still alive. But…"
The pain in Steve's eyes said he understood.
"I know this is hard," Fury said softly. "But you're safe now. We'll help you find your place in this new world."
Steve stared at the ceiling, his heart weighed down by seventy years of absence.
"Captain, can I get you anything?" Coulson asked carefully.
"…Just some water."
Coulson left, while Fury sat at his bedside.
"You'll need time, Steve. Time to adapt."
Steve gave a bitter smile. "Adapt? Everyone I knew is…"
"Not everyone," Fury interrupted. "Peggy Carter is alive. She never forgot you."
A faint light stirred in Steve's eyes. "She… waited?"
"She did," Fury said. "She and Howard built S.H.I.E.L.D. together. They've been protecting the world ever since—just like you once did."
Coulson returned with a glass of water. Steve took a sip, then asked quietly:
"S.H.I.E.L.D.… sounds like they've done good. Did Howard… have kids?"
"He did. A son. Tony Stark. Inherited his brilliance—and his recklessness," Fury admitted with a sigh. "He's even more of a playboy than Howard ever was."
Steve managed a faint smile, then grew serious again.
"Then tell me… how did you find me? You couldn't for all these years. Why now?"
Fury and Coulson exchanged another uneasy glance.
"That… is complicated," Fury admitted at last.
"Let's just say… we got new intel."