Issue 6: picking a mad scientist's brain (Cap)

[dakota]

Bucky's jaw tensed for a moment, then he sighed. " You might not think so if you knew the whole story, Steve. I did take up your mantle for a while, but my methods aren't the same as yours anymore. I tend to be a little more..., brutal to be blunt. Tony and I had a long talk about my methods as Cap. He ended up needing surgery, and we don't speak much anymore. " He smirked as if proud as he closed up the cabinet. " I retired the shield and went back to what I knew best. Go ahead, tell me how you don't approve."

" Are you two going to eat?" Rachel called.

" In a minute. Just putting stuff away." Bucky called, then turned to Cap," Bet you never saw Diamondback as a stay at home mom?" He smirked.

[doc]

"I'm sure there's a story in that." Cap smirks back as he changes.

Cap looks at his oldest friend solemly. "You never needed my approval, Jim. You're your own man, and I respect and admire that. And as far as your methods, I'm not a fool, despite what some would have you believe. I am..." he takes a moment to correct himself. "...was a soldier. You have to use the weapons available to you. For me, the serum meant that I was more than an ordinary soldier, and so I chose to represent all that was good in this country, the best of it, by my methods. But being Captain America doesn't mean you can't use a gun or that you're always going to play nice. It means that you represent America the best way you know how. That's all I could ever ask of anyone, Jim. You made your choices, and I respect that."

[dakota]

Cap had seen the beaming look of pride that crossed Bucky's face as he ushered Cap to the dining room table and the awaiting meal.

About halfway through, a knock came at the door as it opened. " Anyone home?" Clint asked as he entered with a black man that looked to be in at least his seventy's.

" Hello Clint, Isiah. come in." Rachel said.

Isiah's struggled with his coat, pausing with one arm still up his sleeve. He stared at Cap. " I knew you."

[doc]

Steve rises from the table, smiling, and shakes Isaiah's hand. "I know you too."

[dakota]

" You're..." Isaiah said, as he shook the hand, stopping. His body was withered and his mind damaged by the serum so many years earlier, but his eyes told he recognized Steve. " You should be older."

Hawkeye patted Cap's shoulder. " Yeah, but we all know he always does things the hard way, even coming for a visit. Why are you here, anyways?"

Bucky got to his feet as well. " Long story. come on, I'll fill you in." He led clint into the next room.

Rachel sighed and stood up. " Thats the closest we've come to a normal meal in a long time. Hello Isaiah." she hugged the old hero, then ushered Little Bucky into the living room," Come on junior, you know the rules when the men are scheming."

Little Bucky nodded," Yup, stay away so I don't here bad stuff." the boy ran, and the two Caps were left alone in the kitchen.

[doc]

"Good to see you again, Old soldier." He hugs Isaiah. "Sit down, eat. It's been a long day."

[dakota]

Isaiah doesn't argue as he takes a seat. " Everyday is long now. Serum should have warning it goes bad with time."

Clint returned after a moment, with James not far behind. " I gotta run. Logan and Rhodey are waiting on me. Take care everyone, Isaiah, James will get you home."

" Remember to keep your mouth shut about our guest." James warned.

" Yes Bucky," Clint moaned, then looked at Steve, "I hope he wasn't always this paranoid."

" Shut up." James said, showing Hawkeye out. He then paused, as if unsure if he was intruding.

[doc]

Steve smiles at Hawkeye, and then at Isaiah. "I understand Soldier. It's ok. You'e done well. You fought the good fight."

He looks at Bucky. "What's the status?"

[dakota]

" I don't know." James replied. " Hawk gave me a heads up something wasn't right at Isaiah's. Het Rach?" He called. When she came to the kitchen, he continued. " I think I might have screwed up."

" Not the first time, soldier boy." She scowled.

Bucky just shook his head. " I'm being serious, hon. can you take Isaiah and Stevie down to the vault. Clint thought something wasn't right and now I'm worried he might have been followed."

" Always paranoid. " She chuckled. " Allright, come on Isaiah, Little Bucky can show you his new toys."

As the pair left, Bucky turned to Steve," I know better than to ask you to go with them, even if it has been years."

[doc]

"Good, then you haven't forgotten everything I taught you. Or tried to, at least." Steve smirks as he gets back into uniform.

[dakota]

" How does anyone forget a broken record?" James replied with a chuckle. dressed but unarmed, he looked at Steve as a knock came at the door. " That's probably Sam showing up to tell me Isaiah is missing." He went to open the door, and Steve could over hear Bucky's exchange," YOU!?!"

" Hiya Buc." Replied a stranger. " How's your wife and my kid?"

There was a strange discharge of a weapon, followed by a moan and a thump on the floor. From Steve's vantage point, he could only see a reflection of the doorway off the television set. Bucky was collapsed on the floor, and his attacker was just entering the house.

" This is going to be fun." The Paladin laughed.

[doc]

The Veteran of a Thousand battle springs into action, executing a perfect forward roll to close the distance and a powerful front kick to Palladin's jaw.

[dice=100] (14/98 backflip)
[dice=20+7] (13 to strike)
[dice=6][dice=6+15] (24 to Damage)[rand=1276834943819713501750589039856198526900875233401145600527493782279]

[dakota]

Paladin didn't see Cap coming, and stumbled back through the door from the kick, as Cap landed aside Bucky, lying twitching on the floor.

Paladin rubbed his jaw. " Now I see why they offered so much to kill an old man. This ought to be fun. " His nerve pistol came up and he fired at Cap [dice=20+1][rand=574007189025041815749880424946494787587754929578038877059858553664]

[doc]

[dice=20+5] (23 to Autododge)

The Star Spangled Avenger weaves away from the shot and crouches low to slam into Paladin with a full strength shield Bash.

"Trust me, they didn't pay you enough."

[dice=20+8] (11 to strike)
[dice=6+15][dice=6][dice=6] (26 damage)[rand=91087620661961685905208633888901088322116986377047354978733274771]

[dakota]

[dice=20+4]

Paladin just barely managed to sidestep Cap's attack, and responded with a wheel kick intended for the back of the Avenger's head. " If had known I'd get to kick your ass, I might have done it for free."

str [dice=20+3]
if hits [dice=6][dice=6][dice=6+3][rand=34595095103692816648979524909766058966930504364586342513704849717]