[Recruiting candidate…]
[Recruitment complete]
[Deployment: Jackie Chan Adventures]
[Coordinates: San Francisco, California]
Cold, digital text flashed across the holographic screen before the flat image morphed into a vivid three-dimensional display. The transformation was seamless, data points coalescing into reality.
On a bustling San Francisco street teeming with pedestrians and afternoon traffic, a tall, powerfully built man materialized from a shimmering golden portal. His commanding presence drew fleeting glances from passersby, though most continued on their way, too absorbed in their own lives to fully register the anomaly.
His face radiated a magnetic blend of determination and integrity—features that inspired instinctive trust. The vibrant shield gripped in his right hand was unmistakable—painted in concentric circles of red and blue, stylized graffiti somehow elevating rather than defacing the iconic Stars and Stripes motif.
"Captain America?"
In the dimly lit S.H.I.E.L.D. monitoring chamber, Nick Fury leaned forward, his single eye narrowing with intense focus. "So he's the one recruited this time." He quickly confirmed the candidate's identity through biometric markers on the adjacent screen. "Unlike Natasha, the Captain seems to have entered alone this time..."
Despite his outward composure, a flicker of disappointment crossed Fury's face. Their newest S.H.I.E.L.D. asset, Natasha Romanoff—the Black Widow—hadn't been deployed alongside Rogers. Together, they would have been a formidable team, capable of handling virtually any threat this strange world might present.
Such a wasted opportunity.
"Director," Coulson interjected, noticing the subtle shift in Fury's expression. "The Captain is an exceptionally valuable asset in his own right." Admiration colored his professionally measured tone—Coulson's well-known fascination with the super soldier barely contained.
"That's right," Natasha nodded from her station, eyes never leaving the monitoring screens. "The Captain's physiology exceeds normal human parameters by factors of three to five in most categories. In training with the Navy's Six Styles combat system, he mastered basic techniques in hours that take others months." She allowed herself a rare, subtle smile. "He's... impressive."
As the only successful product of Project Rebirth and the cornerstone of the Avengers Initiative, Captain America's physical capabilities were beyond question. The serum had transformed him into the peak of human potential—stronger, faster, and more resilient than any ordinary soldier could hope to be.
"He's already mastered that much?" Fury seemed genuinely surprised. With the constant stream of global crises demanding his attention, he hadn't fully reviewed Rogers' recent training records.
But something else troubled him.
Rogers had only recently been recovered from decades in ice. The man was still adjusting to contemporary society, often bewildered by technology that most took for granted. Dropping him suddenly into an unfamiliar urban environment placed S.H.I.E.L.D. at a tactical disadvantage. If Natasha had been deployed instead—or better yet, alongside him—her infiltration expertise would have allowed her to navigate the complex social landscape effortlessly.
Nick Fury's expression darkened as he processed these complications, his tactical mind already calculating contingency plans.
On the live feed, Steve Rogers stood on a corner in San Francisco's bustling downtown, trying to make sense of his situation.
"I've been... recruited?" he muttered, squinting against the afternoon sunlight as he surveyed the vehicle-filled streets and towering buildings around him. Everything felt both familiar and strange—similar enough to modern New York to recognize as an American city, yet with subtle differences he couldn't quite place.
Steve Rogers—Captain America—had become an American legend for nearly eighty years, though he'd experienced less than a decade of it conscious. After sacrificing himself by crashing a HYDRA bomber into Arctic ice during World War II, he'd remained in suspended animation until S.H.I.E.L.D. discovered and revived him just months ago. Now, not only was he ineligible for the decades of military pension he'd earned, but "Fury with the fury" (as Tony had dubbed the Director) had immediately enlisted him into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s ranks—a transition that still felt more like exploitation than opportunity.
And today had brought yet another bewildering development.
He'd been in his spartan apartment, diligently working through a stack of history books and technology manuals, determined to bridge the seventy-year knowledge gap and properly reintegrate into modern society.
Then without warning, a column of golden light had descended from nowhere, enveloping him completely.
After a disorienting moment of weightlessness—
He'd materialized here, in this similar yet distinctly different world.
Steve took a deep breath, the realization settling heavily on his shoulders. He'd experienced dimensional displacement—again.
"Another Multiverse incursion?" he wondered aloud, brow furrowing in concern.
With his deeply ingrained sense of justice and moral clarity, Steve was fundamentally opposed to concepts like "invasion"—particularly when it involved violating the sovereignty of another world or reality.
Yet considering his previous experiences with Natasha and Tony during their unexpected dimensional travels...
This could represent a significant threat.
Captain America immediately shifted into combat readiness, his posture changing subtly as muscles tensed beneath his uniform. He adjusted his grip on the shield—balanced perfectly for both defense and offense—as his enhanced senses scanned the environment for potential dangers.
His experiences during World War II had permanently altered his perception of safety. Always vigilant, always prepared for the unexpected attack.
And after witnessing the horrors of the Resident Evil universe firsthand—watching a viral outbreak transform civilians into ravenous undead, spreading exponentially through a helpless population, evolving into a potential extinction-level event—his caution had only intensified.
That nightmare scenario had taught him a crucial lesson:
Even the most peaceful-appearing environment could harbor deadly secrets. This seemingly normal city street might conceal untold dangers beneath its mundane exterior.
"According to Coulson's interdimensional survival protocol..." Steve muttered, retrieving the mental checklist he'd memorized after his first displacement experience. "First priority is to establish a local presence and acquire resources. That means securing local currency."
He glanced around, looking for construction sites or any location where his enhanced strength might earn him quick employment—a practical approach to both gathering intelligence and establishing cover—
[Ding!]
A translucent notification window suddenly appeared before his eyes, nearly causing America's greatest hero to jump in surprise. The system interface had finally activated, narrowly preventing a super soldier from seeking employment as manual labor.
[You have entered the special location: Chinatown!]
[Main Mission: Collect the Talismans]
[Darkness in the shadows is about to awaken, sealed statues are beginning to stir, ancient evil spreading its influence across the world. Twelve talismans imbued with mystical power have been scattered across the globe... The delicate balance between good and evil trembles on the edge. Choose your faction and help them collect all twelve talismans before it's too late!]
[Reward: Unknown (calculated based on participation). Successful mission completion will return you to your original world. Death during the mission results in permanent entrapment within this anchored reality.]
[Current Progress: Talisman Collection 0/12]
[Faction: None]
[Points: 0]
"So it's... a collection mission?" Steve furrowed his brow, processing the unexpectedly straightforward objective. "But why specify factions if it's just about finding artifacts?"
The system panel expanded outward, transforming into a detailed map with several pulsing light points scattered across the cityscape.
Uncertain what these indicators represented but recognizing their likely importance, Steve decided to investigate the nearest one. He'd been trained to gather intelligence before committing to any course of action.
However...
Just as he began moving with measured caution through the crowded street—
The world around him erupted into chaos.
In the viewing facility where countless spectators monitored the dimensional incursions, reactions began pouring in:
"Collecting talismans? So that's why this world is called Jackie Chan Adventures—it's literally about adventure and treasure hunting," one observer noted with mild interest.
"Pfft! I was expecting something more substantial. Just another boring scavenger hunt? What's the point of urban exploration? I'd rather watch Bear Grylls battle wilderness elements..." another commented dismissively.
"Exactly! The most thrilling world remains the first one—Resident Evil. That had genuine stakes and tension."
"Is the system running low on creative scenarios? Where's the excitement in hunting artifacts?"
"Who even watches treasure-hunting adventures anymore? There's no emotional payoff. Bring back the T-virus crisis—at least that had real consequences!"
"Agreed..."
Waves of disappointment rippled through the viewing audience. Their expectations, heightened by previous high-stakes scenarios, crashed against the perceived mundanity of this new challenge.
But amidst this atmosphere of collective letdown, a single comment suddenly appeared in the live stream's scrolling text:
"Wait—does anyone else notice this guy looks exactly like Captain America?!"
In reality—
A dedicated Captain America enthusiast was frantically alternating his gaze between his collector's edition poster and the high-definition feed, his expression cycling through disbelief, excitement, and awe.
The resemblance was uncanny—not just similar, but identical in every discernible detail.
That single observation detonated like a bomb in the comment section, triggering an avalanche of responses that threatened to overwhelm the streaming platform's servers. Technical teams scrambled to maintain stability as viewer counts suddenly skyrocketed.
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, alarms began blaring as monitoring systems detected the spike in public interest.
"Director!" Coulson rushed in, perspiration beading on his forehead. "Public response is reaching critical mass. Should we alert the Security Council to implement media containment protocols?"
The implications were staggering. A supposedly fictional American icon—a symbol of hope and patriotism promoted for generations—had suddenly materialized in living, breathing form before a global audience.
A walking, talking embodiment of American idealism.
Under normal circumstances, this revelation alone would have dominated international headlines for months. Only the existence of the interdimensional system had somewhat contained the pandemonium.
"Implement a media blackout?" Fury contemplated the suggestion briefly before shaking his head decisively. "No. We don't suppress—we redirect."
Captain America's return to public consciousness was inevitable now. Better to shape the narrative than futilely attempt to suppress it.
More urgently—
Fury's primary concern had shifted to identifying other potential recruits.
The system's emphasis on faction selection strongly suggested that Rogers wasn't the only operative deployed to this dimension. This mission structure indicated team-based competition, not something designed for isolated individuals.
Absently rubbing his gleaming bald head, Nick Fury grimaced.
His extensive experience with statistical probabilities and Murphy's Law left little room for optimism. Whatever cosmic lottery had selected the participants, S.H.I.E.L.D. was unlikely to be the only organization with assets in play.
"Hold on," Coulson suddenly interrupted, his voice rising in alarm as he stared at another monitoring screen. "Director, why does that other recruit look completely... unhinged?"
Nick Fury spun toward the indicated display, his single eye widening as he took in the bizarre figure now entering the scenario—a development that promised to complicate an already precarious situation.