This is it, the long in coming alternate reality Avengers. I hope you enjoy it and as always I
appreciate all comments. I am thinking of making a separate page for Marvel and DC one-
shots.
The dockside tavern was not a pleasant place. Unwashed sailors hobbled and staggered across the
floor, stepping in piles of leftovers from the tables. Two one-legged sailors at the bar turned to stare
at the stranger as he entered. His overcoat, fresh from the tailor and a beaverskin top hat marked him
as a gentleman, someone of importance, perhaps a captain hiring hands.
The gentleman scanned the dimly lit room for a moment and walked to the bar, boots thudding on the rotting boards. He leaned over the bar and called to the barkeeper. "Wine." Then he turned to look at the man beside him. The man was a strapping figure, finely tuned muscles bulging from under a faded blue jacket. His face was cleanshaven and two piercing blue eyes gleamed from under a tricorner hat. He noticed the gentleman's gaze and extended his hand. "I am captain Steven Rogers, what can I do for you?" The gentleman showed a soft smile. "I am Philip, an employee of a organization which desires your services. Steven frowned. He was not used to flowery words. "What king do you serve?" Philip drank his wine and glanced searchingly around the tavern. "We serve no king, but are nominally under George the third, king of England." Steve swallowed a draft of ale. "The king does not want the services of a Yankee privateer. If it was known I was here in England I am sure that redcoats would be swarming this place." He smiled a little. "You didn't bring any redcoats did you?" Philip looked Steve straight in the eye. "You are a great patriot captain Rogers. You carried out several daring smuggling runs to bring vital supplies to the colonies during their struggle for independance. We need a man who believes in freedom."
Steve furrowed his brow in thought. He took another swallow of the potent ale. He had already had three mugs of the potent brew, enough to make a grown man staggering drunk, but it didn't seem to affect him. Finally he spoke. "Who are your employers? I like to know who I am working for." Philip nodded. "We call ourselves Aegis. Imagine a large company, like the East India Trading Company, dedicated to stopping enemies who threaten the peace of the entire world. We will pay you well and you can walk away at any time, there is no contract to sign." Steve straightened and held out his hand. Philip gripped it and shook it warmly, but the smile on his face was fixed. "Don't look around. There is a man dressed in black on the stairs, he is very dangerous. We need to leave now, slowly."
Captain Rogers turned, slid a silver piece to the tavern keeper and strode purposefully towards the door. He detected a sound above the belching of sailors, the sound of the man in black flying through the air. Steve ducked. His assailant went over his back and crashed into a table, spraying ale everywhere. As he staggered to his feet Steve got a better look at him. A hood covered his face. His shirt was emblazoned with a white skull and crossbones. He was obviously in top physical condition. The man in black lunged at Steve, his fist flicked out and hit the captain. Steve crashed into a wooden post and threw a return punch with practiced ease. His foe evaded the blow with equal skill and rained punches on Steve, who protected his face with his arms. Philip called out in his quiet voice. "Crossbones, but your hands over your head and surrender." The man in black turned and saw Philip holding a double-barreled pistol at his head.
Crossbones leaped behind a post. The pistol discharged a moment later, clipping the post and spraying wood chips over the staring spectators. Crossbones leaped over a table and through the door of the tavern, Philip's second shot whistling past his ear. Steve grabbed a shield from the bar where he had left it. It was a simple round affair, made of metal with leather handles.
Steve slipped it on his arm and exited the tavern. As his eyes adjusted to the dark dock he saw Crossbones and two sailors aiming at him with blunderbusses, nasty close range guns loaded with metal fragments. Steve threw himself into a crouch with his shield covering him. A storm of shrapnel hissed towards him and bounced off of the shield. Philip dove back into the tavern as the sailors grabbed muskets from the ground and cocked them. Steve saw the new threat and stayed down. Crossbones aimed at the doorway where Philip had gone and signaled his men. The sailors began circling around behind Steve. Philip knew that Crossbones would shoot him if he showed himself, but he had to help Steve, he braced himself and cocked his backup pistol.
From the roof of the tavern a wild figure leaped into space and blasted one of Crossbones men in midair with a pistol. The figure hit the ground running and knocked out the other goon with one punch. As Crossbones aimed at this unexpected threat captain Rogers stood and threw his shield. The whirling arc of metal broke Crossbones musket in half. The villain turned and sprinted down a quay towards a waiting boat. Steve started after him but a cry brought him to a halt. Redcoats, british soldiers dressed in red uniforms, streamed onto the dockside and aimed their muskets at Steve. The figure who had rescued him stepped forward. In the dim lamplight Steve saw that it was a man dressed in pantaloons, boots and a thick jerkin. He also wore a cape emblazoned with a double cross. The man stepped forwards, his rugged face breaking into a smile as he adressed the soldiers. "Hey boys, uncock those muskets, you are letting that villain Crossbones get away." Aparently the soldiers knew this man. They slowly uncocked thier pieces and hurried along the quay after Crossbones receding ship. The man held out his hand to Steve, who warmly shook it. "You must be Cap'n Rogers, the Yankee privateer. It's a good thing mister Coulson had me stand by as backup." Philip stepped forwards. "Well done agent." He turned to Rogers. "This is Jack. He is quite a hero in England. He is working with Aegis for a while as security detail." Steve attached his shield to his back by a leather cord. "So when do I start work?" Coulson gestured towards a sloop moored to the quay where blinking lanterns winked. "My men are loading your ship with provisions. We can sail with the morning tide."
