What If? Starring Captain America

"I am Uatu, the Watcher.

It is my task to observe the universe, to record the stories I find, but to never interfere. I also have the ability to look into other realities, to answer the ancient question - what if?

For example, Consider the hero known as Captain America.

In many worlds, he is Steve Rogers, who as a young man during world war two volunteered for a secret attempt to create a super soldier. That experiment was a success, and Steve Rogers took on the identity of a living representative of the ideals of the United States - Captain America.

In the main reality, he was frozen in ice near the end of the war, and revived in the modern age by the Avengers, and began once again to fight for the ideals he loved in this new age.

He has faced many challenges, but in one alternate reality, he faces what might be the toughest challenge ever when his body, his identity, his very nature are altered, and in that reality, we can find the answer to the question - What if Captain America had been transformed into a woman?

Believe it or not, this almost happened in the main reality. Captain America and another hero called Nomad investigated a female supervillain calling herself Suprema. She had an insane plan to kill off all the women outside of her shielded city, thus making the women under her the most valuable resource in the world, forcing the rest of the world to bow to her or become extinct.

Captain America and Nomad were captured, and placed in a tank that would transform them into women, under the belief that once they were the same sex as herself, they would have no choice but to join her cause.

Fortunately, in the main reality, Captain America was released before the transformation began, and then managed to stop Suprema before she could carry out her plans.

But in another reality, things went a little differently. Captain America was released too late to stop the transformation, and even though he powered through the painful changes in his body to stop Suprema, he himself would never be the same ...."

Aboard the Shield Helicarrier, shortly after the fall of Suprema ....

“All right! Get me a medical team, on the double!” Nick Fury shouted as his men took the slumped forms of Captain America and Nomad aboard.

Nick then stormed up to Suprema and shouted at her, “What did you do to them?”

“I elevated them to womanhood. They will soon be the superior sex.”

“Well, stop it. Stop it right now!”

“I cant, even if I wanted to. Its too great an honor for them, but so it goes.”

“All right, get her out of my sight!” Fury shouted at one of his agents.

Five minutes later, Fury stormed onto the bridge of the helicarrier, and shouted, “Okay! I want experts, and I want the asap! “

So it was that about an hour later, a group sat around a conference table, and the mood was somber. Around the table was Hank Pym, formally known as Ant-man, among other names, who now worked as a scientific consultant for the West Coast Avengers; Dr. Henry McCoy, also known as the Beast of the X-Men; and Reed Richards, the amazing Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four.

“I take it you’re all where I am, which is stumped. Within the hour, Cap and Nomad will be woman, and there seems like there is nothing we can do to stop it.” Hank Pym said.

“We tried everything we could think of. But the super-soldier serum is actually defeating our efforts.” Dr. McCoy said.

“How so?” Asked Fury.

“The substance that Cap and Nomad were exposed to basically changed them on a genetic level, changing their ‘Y’ chromosome into an ‘X’, making them genetically female. Now their bodies are being made to match, and the super-soldier serum has some regenerative properties, which normally help them heal faster, among other things. And as far as the serum is now concerned, being female is what they should be based on their genetics, so its helping the process.” Hank Pym said.

“And there is nothing we can do to stop it? To reverse it?” Fury asked.

“Nothing.” Reed replied.

Fury sighed, and then said, “So that’s the end of Captain America and Nomad.”

“No, it isnt!” came from a voice of a woman standing at the door.

“Sharon? Sharon Carter?” Reed asked.

“Yes. I heard what happened to Steve, and I came. You .... men, you are acting like they’re going to die. But they’re not. Being a woman isnt a death sentence. And all of you should know that, as you have had female teammates, all of whom are every bit as much heroes as you are.”

“You are correct, Miss Carter. But they were born female. this will be the biggest adjustment either of them has ever made. Can they do it?” Asked Dr. McCoy.

“Well, I dont know Nomad that well, but I have seen Steve Rogers take everything the world could throw at him, and he would get back up and keep fighting. If any man can handle becoming a woman, its him - as long as we help him see its not the end, just one more challenge.”

“Okay, Carter, you’ve convinced me. Contact Doc Samson, he’ll help with the psychological stuff since that’s his practice, and if there’s anything else you need, you’ll get it.”

“Okay. Lets get to work.“

So an hour and half later, Sharon Carter, Doc Samson, and Natasha Romanov (otherwise known as the Black Widow) were crowded around the bed of Captain America, waiting for the stimulants that had been given to the transformed Avenger to wake him up.

Sharon bit her lip as she looked at the sleeping form in the bed. She thought, “Cap is... beautiful as a girl. Could the man inside that body deal with the reflection he would now see in the mirror?“

But then she shook her head to clear it of negative thoughts. “He .... she can, has to. But its going to take everything we have, including us having the most positive attitude possible.”

The girl’s eyes fluttered, and then opened.

She croaked, and a nurse gave her a drink, and then she looked at the people around her bed. “Suprema?” She asked.

“Is in custody.” Sharon said.

“And the process she started on me and Nomad? “

“We couldn’t stop it.”

Captain America looked down at her body. “How complete is it?”

“Total, Cap. I’m sorry.”

“So what happens to me now?”

“Now? Now you get your lazy butt out of that bed, and get back to work.”

“But I’m ....”

“A woman, yes. But so am I, and so is Natasha here, and guess what, we dont let that stop us from doing our jobs. “

“But ...”

“No buts, soldier. Let’s get moving!”

“Yes, ma’am. Can I have some clothes first, ma’am?”

“You’re in luck. We’ve modified your Captain America uniform. Get dressed.”

Shortly, the transformed Avenger found herself in a room inside the helicarrier that seemed totally blank and empty until Sharon Carter spoke, saying, “Run Captain America training program one.”

A moment later, a number of obstacles, hanging rings, ropes, and the like appeared.

“When did S.H.E.I.L.D. get this?”

“A while back. We got some stuff from the X-men’s danger room.”

“All right. Let’s find out what this new body of mine can do.”

*****

An hour later, a very tired Captain America was watching video of her performance, and shaking her head. “I don’t think I was that bad when I was 4-f-ed out of basic training.”

“Maybe, but I think I see the problem.” Black Widow said.

“What?”

“I think your center of balance has changed. Men and women do have slight differences in that area.”

“Based on my results, I would agree. Let me run it again.”

An hour later, Captain America watched the video again, and nodded. “Better, definately.”

“Much better.” Sharon said.

“I should still run it one more time today.”

“Later. Some food and a bit of rest first, and we’ll talk. “

About a half an hour later, the transformed Avenger sat in Sharon’s quarters, and was listening carefully.

“The reason why I started with the drill sergeant routine was I wanted you to not fall into the trap I saw the guys treating you fell into. They saw you as dead, crippled, and I didn’t want you to see yourself that way. I wanted you to see that you could still do more than most people can, that you could in fact continue to be a hero, an Avenger. That part of your life, at least, didn’t have to change.”

Sharon took a deep breath, and then continued. “But that might be the only part of your life that wont change. You cant spend all your time in costume, and as soon as you step off this helicarrier you are going to have to face the fact that every relationship you have is going to be different now. People treat a woman differently than they treat a man, and I dont think even if they know who you were they are going to be able to help themselves, and they will treat you like a woman. Because that’s what you are, now. And of course, you are going to have to deal with some ... anatomical differences. You grew up in the 30’s, if I remember right, and I suspect you never had any education on what a woman goes through, but you’re going to have to get educated now. Your physical health will depend on learning about the body you now have, and how to take care of it properly. It may feel embarrassing or awkward to talk about, but you have to deal with it. I’ll help you any way I can, and Fury has asked Doc Samson to come aboard so you will have someone to talk to on a professional basis. So, any questions?”

“How is Nomad coping?”

“He ... she isnt. We’ve kept him ... her sedated for now. From the file, he suffered breakdowns before, and this might be too much for him. We hoped that if we could get you stable, you could mentor him through the change. Which I hope gives you another incentive to adapt as quickly as you can.”

“All right, Sharon. I’ll do my best to ... adapt.”

“Good. Like I said, I’ll help all I can, as will Doc Samson, and Black Widow.”

The next couple of days were busy ones for the transformed Avenger, as he slowly adapted and improved, and he was present for Nomad when he awoke to help him as well.

But then the time for adapting ran out.

Nick Fury called the transformed Avenger to the bridge, and then when she arrived, he said, “We got some bad news. Your old sparring partner Baron Zemo has taken the President hostage, and demanding you show up and face him. I dont know how, but I’m guessing somehow he found out about your ... changes, and wants to take advantage.”

“Advantage or not, I’ll have to face him.”

Sharon said, “You will have an advantage too, Stephanie. He will underestimate you now.”

“Stephanie?” Fury asked.

“I had to pick something,” Captain America said, shrugging.

“Fine, Let’s get you to Washington.” Fury said.

Shortly Captain America was piloting a drop-ship, which was little more than a metal ball capable of a controlled fall. It crashed into the roof of the White House, and she stepped out, shield at the ready, and saw Zemo standing behind the President with a gun to his head.

“All right, Zemo! I’m here!” She shouted.

“The rumors I heard were true. You are a woman.”

“Glad you noticed the obvious. Now, let go of the president.”

“No. You will submit to me, or he dies.”

Captain America dropped her shield, and said, “You’re just scared of losing to a girl.”

Zemo swore in German, and shoved the President to the ground, and casually tossed his gun away.

“Just remember, girl, you asked for this.”

And the fight began ...

Captain America dodged, blocked, and jumped to keep the now larger and stronger Zemo from getting a solid shot in, but finally, he got unlucky.

A kick from Zemo knocked her to the ground, and Zemo stood over her leering.

“You could barely keep up with me as a man. As a woman, you present no challenge. But perhaps if you ... submit to me, I will spare you.”

“Submit this.” Captain America said, and hit the villain between the legs with a powerful kick.

*****

A day later, Captain America, now in civilian clothes as Stephanie Rogers, sat beside the transformed Nomad, who had taken the name Jackie Monroe.

“You kicked him in the ...really?”

“It was an effective move, and one he was wide open to. Although to be honest, I had been aiming higher.” Rogers said.

“So are you gonna keep the costume? Keep being Captain America?”

“I have thought about it long and hard, and Sharon was right. There’s no reason why I cant continue to be of service. Besides, being a heroine instead of a hero might take less adjustment than my new life outside the costume is going to. What about you?”

“I hope you understand, but I think I want to retire from being Nomad, at least for now. I am ... a woman now, a whole new person, and I’d like to find out who she is.”

“I totally understand, Jackie. I’ll help you any way I can.”

*****

So two days later, the former hero Nomad was dropped off in New York City, and a videotaped announcement confirming Captain America’s transformation was released. And so began a new chapter in the legend of Captain America, as she fought against villains and cosmic threats both on her own and alongside the Avengers.

“Will this new version of an American legend continue? Only time will tell.

Time .... and the Watcher”

End