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#1
JUL 09 |
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“Stealing Liberty” Part One
Washington D.C.
The White House: the symbol of hope and American resolution. Inside of its doors lies a legacy of democracy and freedom that spans two and half centuries. Equally iconic is the role of the President, a man who is seen as the figurehead of peace and freedom, the leader of the free world and a man who sets the standard for what path the country takes.
For the current President, no responsibility could weigh heavier. He looked up to the two men who entered the Oval Office and, after they saluted, he motioned for them to take seats. Steve Rogers, clad in the red, white and blue uniform of Captain America, and Nick Fury, Director of SHIELD, sat. Clearing his throat, the President addressed the two men, “Colonel Fury, Captain America, I have heard about the recent attack on Avengers Mansion. I must say this disturbs me greatly.”
“I know, sir,” said Cap. “It took us all by surprise.”
“SHIELD is running down every lead we can find, Mister President,” said Fury, before he took another drag off the stub of a cigar he held between his lips. “So far we have come up with nothing.”
“As you both know, I am supposed to be giving a speech this afternoon in the very heart of D.C.,” said the President. “What do you expect me to say about a terrorist attack on American soil? An attack on the so-called world’s greatest heroes?”
“The Avengers are working on just that, Mister President, and we will not rest until the persons behind the scheme are behind bars,” Captain America said firmly.
“And SHIELD is making this a top priority as well, sir,” said Fury.
The president leaned back in his chair and folded his left leg over his right, steepling his hands and rested them on his stomach. “If you two can guarantee an uneventful evening,” began the President after a moment, “then I will be able to stifle the panic and focus on the current agenda.”
“It will be no problem, sir,” said Cap.
“I’ll have every spare SHIELD operative at your disposal.”
“Good, then you both are dismissed.”
The two walked out of the Oval Office together and headed down the hall until Fury turned around and stopped Cap in his tracks, putting his hand on Steve’s shoulder.
“Look, Steve, I appreciate you being here and all, but--”
“--but what?”
“You’re not in any shape for this kind of duty,” said Fury. “I’d appreciate ya on tactical, but I’m not gonna let you do field ops.”
“Nick, you know in case something comes down that you will need me,” Steve said, his eye narrowing.
“In certain conditions I would agree, but this time my men and I have it covered.”
Colonel Fury turned his back to Steve. “Oh, one more thing…say hi to Bucky for me.”
“I will,” said Steve as he watched Colonel Fury walk off.
Arlington Cemetery, Washington D.C.
The sun shone down on the cemetery where the nation’s bravest soldiers were laid to rest. Every grave was honored; every name was entrenched in American history, including two graves that were more than sixty years old.
Captain America stood over the grave that was his and the one of his dear departed friend, James Buchanan Barnes. Two wreaths were laid upon Bucky’s tombstone and Cap knew who set them there. He walked a bit closer despite the pain from his shoulder and leaned down to touch the grave of his closest comrade. His cowl was pulled down and he wore his shield on his back. It was mostly symbolic, as he hadn’t been cleared for active duty just yet, but that had never really stopped him before.
“Bucky,” he said, “Nick says hi. It feels like yesterday we were talking about what the world would be like once the war was over.”
Cap closed his eyes and he could almost picture his best friend and their exploits together. When he opened them, he placed his hands on his knees.
“It’s too bad you never got to see what I have,” he said. “You would have been just as amazed as I am.”
Cap stood up and gave a salute to his fallen partner before departing. A single tear fell on the tombstone.
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
On the footsteps of the memorial to the sixteenth President of the United States stood the forty-fourth President with his wife and young daughter. The media snapped a flurry of pictures of the first family while the President strode to the podium to make his speech. In the crowd, SHIELD agents were standing by, some in civilian attire, some using state of the art cloaking technology and others in full uniform around the edges of the crowd. Nearest the President was Colonel Fury and Captain America, who stood just behind the large Secret Service detail surrounding the President.
Security was tight and for that Steve was glad; his presence was simply meant to be reassuring. Despite the President’s earlier brusque behavior, he was concerned and Steve understood that. The Avengers were an icon of America’s safety and the front line of defense against numerous evils and, if they couldn’t prevent an attack on their own home, what did that meant for the American people? His thoughts were interrupted by the president’s rich baritone voice.
“Ladies and gentlemen, today is an occasion that all of us most work together to achieve,” the President began.
Steve looked around the area as the President spoke and he could hear the sounds of the wind whipping about. He noticed someone moving through the crowd rather forcefully and he turned toward Colonel Fury. “Nick, we have a problem.”
Fury quickly spotted the tall man in a trench coat and fedora. “All units, we have an intruder coming through the crowd. Apprehend and detain.”
The Secret Service detachment tightened around them, several reaching for weapons. SHIELD agents moved quickly in response and the figure stopped, looking up and dropped his arms to his sides. The coat dropped off his shoulders and he ripped his fedora off his head. As the crowd saw him it began to panic, everyone trying to get out of the way. Steve tensed and reached for his shield, but Fury put his hand on his arm.
The SHIELD agents drew their weapons and surrounded the black and light blue costumed figure, but he only smiled. “Is this all your country has to send against the Rock Python?”
“Don’t move and you won’t be hurt,” said one of the SHIELD agents.
“Oh, really?”
Rock Python tossed some snake eggs at the street and they exploded, blinding all that saw the flash. Cap had managed to cover his eyes, and when the light died down he saw Rock Python coming, so he dashed toward him to cut him off from the President. By the time the SHIELD agents recovered they had to quell the panicking crowd and could not pursue the Serpent Society member.
“Stop right there, son.”
Rock Python turned around in a cocky manner to see the man who opposed him. “And who might you be?” he asked snidely. “A civil servant? I heard the real Captain America got creamed in Avengers Mansion.”
“It doesn’t matter what you heard,” Cap said. “I’m not dead and I won’t let you near the President.”
A smile crossed Rock Python’s lips and he charged toward Cap with his hands clenched into fists. “I’m gonna paste you all over this joint.”
“You have to hit me first,” said Cap as he leaped over Rock Python and kicked him in the small of the back. A loud crack sound followed and, after Cap managed to get back to his feet, he saw the body imprint that his foe had made in the steps.
“It’s time to give up, Python,” said Cap. “You won’t gain anything by doing this.”
Rock Python got up to his feet but he was wobbly. He looked at Cap with a smirk and then motioned him to come on.
Cap started toward him when an explosion caught both of their attention. Several more explosions followed and it was then Cap saw the rest of the Serpent Society appearing from nowhere. They mowed through the Secret Service detail easily and quickly surrounded the President. Cap ran to provide help to the Secret Service agents being slaughtered, but Rock Python tackled him from behind, which caused pain to flare up his bad shoulder when they hit the ground and all of Rock Python’s weight was upon him.
He cried out in pain, struggling under the weight of his opponent’s rock-like hide before he managed the strength to shove him off. With a nip up, Cap was back on his feet and struck Rock Python in the mouth with a hard kick, following it up with a judo throw that took the wind out of Rock Python’s sails.
He then went to chase after the rest of the Society, who had the President in their clutches. From his vantage point, he could see Anaconda carrying the President to a getaway van, so he pushed his way through the remaining onlookers and hopped aboard a motorcycle with the key in the ignition. A simple turn of the key and a kick of the kickstand and he was motoring right behind them.
“We got trouble?” said Fer De Lance, as she looked out the back window.
“Take care of it,” said a voice from the front seat. “Nothing must stop us from completing this mission.”
Fer De Lance gave a brief nod and then jumped out the back doors onto the motorcycle that Cap was driving. She drew back her arms with her coated fangs extended at full length, and was about to drive them forward until Cap popped a wheelie, which sent her over the bike and right onto the street.
The group’s leader turned to her cohorts and glared at them. “Can’t any of you do something as simple as kill one man?” Viper hissed angrily.
“Let me out there,” said Black Racer. “My super speed will make him bleed in places he didn’t know he had!”
“Then go! The chopper will be here any minute,” said Viper.
Like a blur, Black Racer departed the van and came up beside Cap on his stolen motorcycle. With swift precision she started removing parts, which caused Cap to slam into the street and roll to a stop.
“Aw, did you fall down and go boom?” asked Black Racer.
Cap struggled to get to his feet but Black Racer ran all around him, punching and kicking. Throwing everything to chance, he reached a hand out and painfully caught her ankle, causing her to smack into the street herself and knocking her out cold. The act aggravated his bad shoulder terribly and he leaned to his side as the pain become almost unbearable. In the distant he could swear he saw a SHIELD transport coming before everything faded to black.
SHIELD Headquarters, Location Classified
Cap awoke, startled by the presence of doctors standing over him. In the corner he could see Fury watching them finish up their work and then they left. A moment passed before Nick walked up to Cap’s bed and sat down in the seat next to it.
“They got the President,” said Fury, “and we don’t have a damn clue where he is.”
“H-how long was I out?” asked Cap.
“Two hours,” said Fury. “You’re lucky, you almost risked losing your entire arm.”
“What about Black Racer and Rock Python?” he asked, ignoring Nick’s statement about his injury. “Have they talked?”
“Not yet,” said Fury, “but we have ways of making them.” He grinned at the cliché.
Cap started to lean up in bed but Fury pushed him back down. “Dammit, you are no condition to aid in this search. If I have to place you under arrest I will. Leave it to me and my boys.”
“I can make them talk,” said Cap. “Just give me a chance.”
“No. Our psych ops will take care of it.”
Cap leaned his head back on the pillow. “Why do you suppose they kidnapped the President?”
“The Serpent Society’s never pulled anything like this. It could be anything from ransom to brainwashing to securing the release of several of their comrades.”
“Nick, I’m going to help the moment I can,” he said. “I don’t care what you say to the contrary.”
“Steve…” He sighed. “Just promise you’ll be careful.”
“I will.” Colonel Fury nodded and then left Cap alone to get some rest.
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To Be Continued...
Next: In Captain America #2: The country is reeling from the kidnapping of the President, but is there more to it than anyone has seen? Find out as Stealing Liberty continues!
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