"Why come to pick me up? New York is my turf, there's really no need for such a grand reception."
Howard got off the boat and immediately bought a newspaper and a hamburger, eager to taste the flavor of civilized society again. Having been rambling in the rainforest for so long, he felt he was about to turn into a wildman.
Waiting for him at the dock was none other than Fury, and it wasn't just him; a few other members of the Roaring Assault Team were hidden in the shadows of the street.
"Captain, Dr. Stark." Fury pulled a corner of his mouth, greeting the two of them very flatly.
Steve smiled and nodded, searching the crowd for Peggy's figure but couldn't see her.
Howard bit into his hamburger, looked at the newspaper in his hand. The headline read 'In the face of the year-end tragedy, a responsible agency has been ordered to disband.' Although it didn't explicitly state, insiders could easily understand it was the SSR being disbanded.
He looked at Fury again and understood.
"Ahem, you and the Roaring Assault Team are out of work, right? If you're looking for jobs, no problem. My Stark Industries can hire you as security guards. Fury, you can be the Chief of Security with an annual salary of this amount."
Saying this, Howard flashed two fingers in front of Fury like rabbit ears, meaning twenty thousand US Dollars.
Though still wearing a shabby suit with a seaman's jacket, he was undoubtedly brimming with confidence when talking about money.
In 1955, the average annual salary in the United States was about 4500 US Dollars. Howard didn't believe that just over a year, this number could increase much. Twenty thousand a year, how many mercenaries lost their lives in Africa and Latin America couldn't earn this, it seemed worthy of Fury's skills.
However, Fury wasn't moved at all, just looked at him expressionlessly: "It's not about that, we're here to have a meeting with you."
"Meeting? What meeting?"
Howard looked at the bustling dock, with sharp-nosed reporters already rushing to photograph the warship. He felt a bit disinterested.
He planned to eat, drink, sleep, and then spy on his destined wife. Where's the time for a meeting?
However, Fury directly had someone bring over a car, pushing Captain and Howard into it: "I don't know what the meeting is, but Agent Carter is waiting for you there, presidential directive."
"Tch, such a hassle, well, can we stop by Wilson Department Store on the way? I need to change clothes."
Howard got a bit serious too, but since it was a meeting, he couldn't go dressed like this.
Steve nodded, although they bathed on the warship, their clothes indeed needed changing. Even though he was a veteran, since Fury pushed him into the car, there should be something to discuss, right?
"I'm afraid we don't have time for that." Dugan, who was driving, turned his head with a smile. He steered the car towards the suburbs, the small black sedan speeding away, just like when they were pursued by Stuka during a behind-enemy-lines operation.
Over ten minutes later, in an old barn that looked like a farm outside New Jersey, the car drove in, and the ground descended along with it.
"Another secret base, huh? I knew that bunch in Congress wouldn't let us dissolve easily." Stark rummaged in the car, finding a pack of cigarettes: "Aha, I think your car might have some cigarettes as well."
"This is the 'Playground,' built as a backup base led by Agent 13 years ago, originally constructed in fear of a World War II enemy landing." The elevator had no lights, and Fury seemed to disappear in the car, only a set of floating teeth could be seen opening and closing: "The SSR has disbanded, and all of us have been discharged from the military, so the President authorized us to establish a new organization, free from military control, funded and controlled by Congress. We've been debating whether to call it SRS or RSS."
"Can't we let go of the letters S and R? Since it's a cover, why not just name it something like Some Office or Some Plan?" As the sound of machine gears turned, Howard indifferently lit a cigarette.
"What about Peggy? What's her take?" Steve wanted to know her situation, why she looked so busy.
Fury sighed; he knew that Steve had already retired, and Peggy originally also quit the SSR intending to travel the world with him.
But now that seems impossible.
"The President appointed her as the first manager of the new agency, I'm sorry, Steve, your marr..."
Before Fury could finish, Steve raised his hand to stop him.
That hand slowly retracted, and in the darkness, Steve covered his face, letting out a melancholic sigh.
Peggy always spoke of retiring early together and traveling for a honeymoon, but now she was in charge of the United States' intelligence agency. Why were her words and actions completely different?
Fury and Dugan exchanged glances, and the bearded Dum Dum Bullet gritted his teeth and shook his head, feeling it was best not to meddle in the Captain's and Agent 13's affairs.
Seeing the atmosphere in the car getting awkward, Howard quickly cracked a dirty joke, and Fury and Dugan gladly went along, telling even raunchier ones, instantly filling the dark elevator with laughter and echoes reverberating in the deep tunnel.
This underground base isn't very deep, so Dugan quickly started the car again, driving through the dimly lit underground tunnel, and within seconds, everyone's view opened up.
A vast underground space appeared before them, bustling with busy crowds and small vehicles shuttling back and forth, a scene of chaos all around. A few planes were parked here, while in the distance, a dirt runway was being paved with concrete.
The sounds of machinery clashing, workers shouting, and car engines roaring mixed together like a symphony, filling the air with tension.
The car slowed down a bit as Dugan occasionally had to stick his head out the window to shout for people to get out of the way. A few minutes later, they arrived at an elevator.
"Can I talk to Peggy before the meeting?" Steve looked at Fury, pulling a shield out of the tattered bag on his back.
Heitan had no objections and pressed the elevator button: "She's always been my leader, so asking me is useless. After that last incident, she's been doing her job very well, and the higher-ups have been completely convinced by her."
Howard touched his face, took out a small pair of scissors to trim his beard in the reflection of the brand-new metal elevator door, muttering:
"She might be the most powerful woman in the United States right now. For those of us who know her, it's fine since we know her capabilities, but many people probably won't be satisfied. She's under a lot of pressure moving forward."
Fury nodded. For him, having Peggy as Director is a good thing because she has been following the Roaring Assault Team's operations since World War II, so his team remains a strong force.
But for some people, it's not the same.
Additionally, through so many events, Heitan clearly felt that the SSR was filled with spies from various factions. This reorganization opportunity was convenient to conduct a thorough investigation of everyone.
The group went upstairs and met Peggy in the conference room. She was already in uniform, busy instructing something to her staff.
She looked up and smiled at Steve: "Sit down; let's have a brief meeting to decide the name of our new organization. Congress needs to follow the procedures."
"Can I talk to you? It will be quick." Steve approached a bit, asking softly.
"Is it urgent?" Peggy looked at him with her big eyes but nodded: "Let's go to the break room. Everyone, please wait a few minutes for us."
"Hmm? Captain America, so quick, eh?"
Howard whispered to Fury, only to receive a large, exaggerated eye roll from the Black Man.
Once inside the break room, Peggy locked the door and threw herself into Steve's arms, giving him a lingering kiss, then whispered: "I know you missed me. I missed you too. I was worried to death when I heard you went to Cuba, but we have official matters here first. Let's continue later in my dorm, okay?"
Steve sighed, gently patting Peggy's back: "I know, I just... wanted to ask why you took on this assignment? Didn't we agree to go to Antarctica first, then have a travel wedding?"
"The world has changed, Steve. Our enemies have come at us again. We can't rest until we utterly defeat them. You see, it's a fight of life and death beyond imagination, so about us... can we postpone it for a year?"
Peggy squeezed Steve's hand, looked up at his eyes, and said earnestly.
Captain America nodded, stroking her hair: "All right, I understand. Anyway, we have a long future ahead; postponing the wedding is fine. Since you've decided to stay, I'll rejoin the team and help out. I'm sure Fury and they will welcome me."
"Um... Steve?" Peggy frowned, lowering her head a bit sheepishly: "The President thinks it's inappropriate for you to appear in public for the time being, not even to be seen. While I'm thrilled you're willing to come back, you'll have to work as a clerk."
Her voice grew softer, but Steve heard it clearly.
The damp atmosphere in the break room couldn't be dispelled by warm lights, and Steve slowly closed his eyes.
He had only killed the bad guys who deserved it. He wasn't wrong, so why would the President give such an order, and even Peggy compromised?
Seeing his silence, Peggy hugged and swayed his waist a bit in a placating manner: "How about becoming my secretary? When no one's around, we can dance in the office, like this."
She smiled as she spoke. Over the years, she had taught him many dance steps, and perhaps because of a past promise, Steve had always been eager to dance with her.
However, Steve shook his head, aware of his knowledge limited to high school.
No matter how much he wanted to be with Peggy, it would be irresponsible to everyone to have someone clearly unqualified occupy the position of Director's secretary. Furthermore, with a woman in a leadership role already being pointed at and criticized in this era, he couldn't add to Peggy's troubles.
"No, send me to kill Hydra, to kill Little Devils, that's no problem, but handling paperwork, typing, answering phones, I can't help you there. I'll retire at home on my pension and draw comics instead."
Peggy nodded, not forcing Steve to do anything: "That's fine. You're too trusting, not suited for the scheming spy games. Are you seriously planning to make comics?"
"Why not? I was a fan of Dual Gun Hero as a kid, and later Holloway showed me those two revolvers. I want to draw my old novels into comics." Steve forced a light-hearted smile, though he felt abandoned by everyone.