Wearing his Captain America uniform, Steve Rogers looks over a HYDRA uniform and muses that there's a price to pay in every war. He says he thought he understood the price, and thinks back to all the things he did to ensure HYDRA's takeover, including throwing Jack Flag off an airplane, having Rick Jones executed, blowing up Las Vegas, and destroying the Underground base. He has to shut his eyes, though, when he thinks about the recent apparent death of Elisa "Madame HYDRA" Sinclair.
Before the takeover, Rogers and Sinclair ate at a HYDRA-supporting restaurant. Rogers attempted to order more wine but Sinclair stopped him, saying his mind needs to be sharp in preparation for the upcoming takeover. She warns him he will have to do much of the next part alone. He says that he has armies and other superhumans behind him, but Sinclair warns him that he can't rely on any of those. She tells him nothing lasts forever, and he corrects her to say that HYDRA does. She acknowledges the point and pours him some wine, and they toast HYDRA.
Back in the present, Rogers thinks that he feels lost and abandoned without Sinclair by his side. Wearing a collared shirt and pants, he goes to a bar and sees Thor Odinson, but after he refuses a beer Odinson curses him. When Rogers again refuses to drink Odinson says they must be doomed. Rogers demands an explanation, calling Odinson 'Thor' in the process, and Odinson first says that his name is not Thor and he shouldn't have to explain. He decides to do so anyway, and says that 'Thor' and 'Captain America' used to drink in celebration for their great heroic deeds, or just for fun. Rogers asks why 'Thor' is drinking now since he didn't really contribute to the battle against the Underground and even helped the rebels to escape. Odinson screams that he is not Thor and the real Thor was banished to another world by Rogers and his forces. Rogers cuts Odinson off, saying he doesn't even believe in himself, as shown by his not having tried to lift Mjolnir since the HYDRA takeover. He then tells Odinson not to backtalk him again unless he wants a fight, and if he does want a fight, he won't win without Mjolnir. He leaves, and Odinson shatters his beer glass in despair.
Rogers put on part of his HYDRA uniform, musing that Sinclair was the only other person who remembers the 'real' world in which HYDRA was about to win World War 2 before the Allies intervened with their Cosmic Cube. He then goes to see the imprisoned Sharon Carter, who asks if he misses his old friends and the Avengers. Rogers says he doesn't and it's time for everyone to grow up and get used to the new, better world HYDRA is trying to bring about. He says he wishes she could see things his way but Carter just wonders if she's in Rick Jones' old cell and notes that Rogers' pep talks didn't convince Jones to switch his loyalty either. Rogers begs her to understand that he and HYDRA are trying to build a beautiful new world, and Carter says she finally gets it: he's adopted an 'ends justify the means' approach and the bodycount doesn't matter as long as he remakes the world the way he wants it. She tells him Johann "Red Skull" Shmidt would be pleased by his actions, and when he protests, Carter says that Rogers just divides and persecutes people like Shmidt did. She yells that Rogers is a fascist like Shmidt. Rogers is silent for a few moments before telling Carter that she is indeed in Jones' old cell and she should get used to it.
Later, Rogers vows to bring Sinclair back from the dead. He puts on the rest of his HYDRA uniform and goes to gives a press conference, thinking that now that he's paid the price, he's ready for the war.
Tropes:
- Evil Costume Switch: Rogers starts the issue wearing his Captain America uniform. However, every time he is rejected by a former ally, he progresses more towards his HYDRA uniform, until the final scene when he's wearing the entire thing.
