An Epitaph to War

02

WORLD EXPOSITION OF TOMORROW

"I don't see what the problem is," Bucky said. "You're the last eligible man in New York. You know, there's three and a half million women here."

"Well, I'd settle for just one," Steve replied.

"Good thing I took care of that."

Liesl tilted her head with a curious expression and asked, "Buck, what did you do?"

"What didn't he do," Steve mumbled.

Bucky chuckled as he looked between them and kissed Liesl's cheek. "Just helped our friend out a little. Don't worry, doll, you're the only one for me." He waved to the dates, Connie and Bonnie, he'd lined up. "They wanted to come together."

"Hey, Bucky!" Connie greeted, noticing Liesl. "Your girl is stunning!"

Bucky nodded, glancing at his wife. "She certainly is."

"What did you tell her about me?" Steve asked.

"Only the good stuff."

Music played and the expo announcer said, "Welcome to the Modern Marvels Pavilion and the World of Tomorrow. A greater world. A better world."

"Oh, my God!" Connie cried. "It's starting!"

Liesl gripped Bucky's left hand excitedly as she let out a high-pitched squeal.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Howard Stark!" Mandy introduced.

Howard entered the stage and kissed the announcer.

A woman yelled, "I love you, Howard!"

Howard addressed the audience at the World Exposition fair. "Ladies and gentlemen, what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all." The female assistants took the wheels off the car on stage. "Yes. Thanks, Mandy." He addressed the audience again. "With Stark robotic reversion technology, you'll be able to do just that."

Howard turned on the switch of his machine and the car started to hover off the ground.

"Holy cow," Bucky muttered.

"Oh my goodness," Liesl whispered.

The robots making the car hover suddenly malfunctioned and the car fell back on stage.

"I did say a few years, didn't I?" Howard said, causing everyone to laugh.

Steve disappeared, and Bucky and Liesl noticed.

"Hey, Steve, what do you say we treat these girls..." Bucky began.

"He left," Liesl said. "And I have an idea as to where."

"Lead the way, doll."

RECRUITMENT CENTER

A woman said to her male company, pulling him away from a mirror making him look like a soldier, "Come on, soldier."

Steve stepped in front of the mirror but was too short to fill out the face.

"Come on," Bucky said. "You're kind of missing the point of a double date. Of sorts. We're taking the girls dancing."

"You both go ahead," Steve told him. "I'll catch up with you two."

"You're really gonna do this again?"

"Well, it's a fair. I'm gonna try my luck."

"As who?" Liesl said. "Steve from Ohio? They'll catch you. Or worse, they'll actually take you. They've already drafted Bucky. You really think we want them taking you as well?"