Back to Gatefold
Issue #23 by Steve Crosby
"America Made Set" September 2023 |
Raindrops and bullets fell against Captain America’s shield. It prevented any hot lead from striking his body, but there was no end to the falling water. From every direction, the wind-driven rain lashed against him, obscuring all senses.
The surface of the suspended bridge, already smooth, was made slick by the thin layer of water. Even with the specialized tread of Captain America’s boots, the footing was difficult. The high winds contributed to the danger. One slight misstep, and Captain America would find himself careening thousands of feet to his death.
The four heavily armed guards possessed all the advantages that Captain America lacked. Specialized helmets ensured complete awareness of their surroundings, and magnetic boots maintained a firm footing. Their high-powered automatic rifles and coordinated fire expelled an uninterrupted stream of death. In another second, they would alert central command of Captain America’s presence, and he could expect reinforcements to fire on him from multiple angles.
Running at full speed, Captain America threw his shield down and jumped. Against the low-friction surface, the shield traveled at remarkable speed. Possessed of a magnetic pull, those boots made quick footwork almost impossible. The shield struck the shins of two guards, disrupting their movements as they tried to raise their rifle muzzles.
The ever-so-brief opening was all that Captain America needed. Twisting his body to avoid the streams of bullets, he landed amidst the four guards. In swift, minimal motions, Captain America took two rifles in hand and swung about. Helmets cracked against the force, skulls inside fared little better, and bodies with magnetic boots slumped awkwardly. Dropping the rifles, Captain America lunged for his shield as it shot off the bridge.
The movement was ill-advised. Though Captain America managed to securely take his shield in one hand, his other failed to grip the guard-rail. Fortunately, a smaller hand took hold of Captain America by the wrist. He dangled over the side, the ground obscured by the storm. Crouched on the guard-rail, Free Spirit considered Captain America’s situation.
“That would have been quite a fall.”
“Thank you,” Captain America said as he flipped back onto the bridge. Free Spirit dropped to equal footing with him, and together they moved quickly. As they neared the building’s rooftop, Free Spirit leaped high to avoid the surveillance camera’s line of sight, while Captain America dropped low.
“They probably know we’re here by now,” Free Spirit said. The access panel into the building was heavy and secure. One kick from her relatively small yet powerfully built body broke it apart. High frequency alarms were barely discernible on the edge of her hearing. “Now they definitely know.”
“Then we’ll have more to go through,” Captain America said matter-of-factly. “As many as we have to, until we reach Hugh Jones and halt the damage he’s doing.”
* * *
Never before had Jack Harrison been so disgusted. Some of the fools he served with in the House of Representatives were at that moment in the chamber arguing to remove the Speaker and replace her with Hugh Jones. Shaking with rage, Jack moved to leave the chamber. A colleague from the other side smirked at him, and Jack resisted the urge to deliver a brutal beating to the credibly accused sex trafficker.
As he seethed that such despicable people could be elected into any position of power, Jack saw officers of the Capital Police gathered in the hallway. There was heavy activity on their radios. Jack’s impressive hearing could make out most of it. A large crowd of people were advancing on the Capital.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked one of the officer.
“There is a situation happening outside. It may be nothing. Right now we’re observing, but it would be best if everybody was in the chamber. That way if things escalate we can move you all to safety.”
“I’ll be in my office,” Jack said. “If there are new developments you can reach me directly.”
Representative Jack Harrison walked away over the officer’s objections. From what radio chatter he could overhear, the situation was escalating. If it was connected this sudden reverence towards a man that just emerged from a coma, it may not be natural and therefore Jack couldn’t be sure who to trust. Jack’s first priority was to his staff.
Most of his Capitol staff were in their designated office space. To his chief Jack said, “There is a situation happening. Please reach out to everyone that is scheduled absent and confirm their whereabouts.”
“Okay. Will we need to go somewhere?”
There was breaking news on a large television in the office. The crowd outside the Capital Building was massive and moving. Jack opened the door to his private office and went for his desk. The bottom drawer was protected by a keypad, and opened automatically when Jack entered the code. He removed a stylized mask that resembled a bandana. There wouldn’t be time for anything else.
“It’s best if you barricade yourselves here. Keep the television on for updates. I’m not certain how well you can trust anyone that contacts you. If you see me killed on camera, you’ll know how bad it is.”
As his Chief of Staff tried to reassure the others, Jack Flag left the office with the mask over his face. It had purpose beyond any meager attempt to hide his identity. To Jack, the colors represented why he served, what needed defending, and who to trust.
On his way out, Jack Flag encountered another colleague from across the aisle. This one forced a despicable laugh at seeing the mask.
“I can’t wait to see them hang your ass. All you traitors will-”
This time Jack Flag did not resist the urge. One punch was all it took to knock his Committee Chair to the floor. Jack then moved with haste, rushing past Capital Police who ordered him to halt. He leaped over the security screening and out the main entrance. On the steps, the sea of hate filled his vision.
This was no spontaneous crowd storming the seat of government. Jack Flag saw special outfits and accessories that no casual tourists would have brought on a trip. These people had been prepared, waiting for orders.
When the crowd first made contact with the barricades and the Capital Police, Jack Flag rushed forward. Behind the mask, he was smiling. No reason to hold back.
* * *
Captain America was done with stairs, choosing instead to drop through the central shaft of the stairwell. Armed guards had already entered below and were firing up at the falling Super-Soldier. As he twisted his body to avoid bullets and deflect others with his shield, Captain America reflected on the hours that led him to this moment. It had been a madcap since he was first shown the news conference by Hugh Jones, and seen the twisted Serpent Crown of Set atop the head of Roxxon’s former and once-again Chief Executive Officer.
Of course Captain America had made calls. To SHIELD and the Avengers first, then a select few after. When Jarvis had answered at the mansion, and acted as though it was perfectly normal to do what Hugh Jones wanted whatever he asked because he could only have gotten so rich and powerful by being such a brilliant and charismatic leader, Captain America had an idea of how the Serpent Crown was slithering its way through the psyche of the world. Unfortunately, many millions were already so conditioned to trust in the established institutions, to believe that those of great success could have only achieved such through hard work and being inherently better.
Steve Rogers may even have believed that at one point. Before he saw so many decent people brought low and deplorable monsters raised high by what seemed to be the whims of fate. So many factors could determine the course of a person’s life, almost all outside of their control. If skepticism of the world’s power structures afforded any protection from the Serpent Crown, Captain America needed to act fast before that faded.
Fortunately, Free Spirit had also recognized the nightmare of what was going on. Together, they had quickly made contact with others who had not slumbered. Intelligence was gathered. Transportation was arranged. Now Captain America and Free Spirit were in free fall amidst a hail of bullets, uncertain if the promised back-up will ever arrive.
Free Spirit fell past Captain America and reached shooters first, taking out several with split kicks. One armed guard she grabbed and through at another, displaying strength well beyond her slight if toned frame. While she perched atop a railing and brawled with guards entering through a door, Captain America landed into a roll one floor above. In the smooth roll he grabbed a keycard from one of the downed guards and slides it to open the door as he rose to a standing position.
“Up here! This is the-“
*Skritt!*
As soon as Captain America was through the door, long purple talons slashed against his shield. A humanoid figure of green and purple stood before him. In addition to the long talons on each hand, he had a long reptilian tail and a green fin down his head. Even before noticing the lack of a mouth, Captain America recognized the features that had belonged to Death Adder of the Serpent Society.
“I don’t have time for this.” Blocking a second swipe with his shield, Captain America drove his free fist forward against the man’s face. The Death Adder he’d previously encountered was dangerous, but he was also dead. Given how rapidly this man crumbled, there had been no resurrection.
Free Spirit emerged in the doorway behind Captain America. “That looked like a nasty piece of work.”
“The Serpent Society was employed by Roxxon in the past. We may encounter some of the genuine members.”
“So this stable genius is recycling bad ideas? I’m starting to worry that we may underestimate him.”
“Be careful. He’s not playing 10th dimensional chess. Hugh Jones seeks world domination, and the Serpent Crown is the means to manipulate everybody. It’s one of many resources that he has, but the man himself is nobody special. We go in with clear eyes, fully aware of the power behind him, and we give it everything we have.”
They were running towards and intersection in the hallway. A perfect spot for an ambush. Captain America made a low dive, his shield held out sideways. Just over his head he heard the chomp of large metal jaws.
Where Captain America went low, Free Spirit went high. Moments after the colorfully clad serpent-themed cyborg closed his weaponized maw, Free Spirit grabbed it at the seams. As she flipped and twisted her body, Free Spirit wrenched the mechanical jaw apart in her hands and kicked at the head. Missing his lower jaw, the man crashed against the wall, unconscious.
Captain America glanced behind to confirm whether this was the genuine Cottonmouth. “Another hired gun dressed as a professional. Whatever training they may have gone through, they won’t be as skilled as the real Serpent Society.”
As he was talking, a man with elongated limbs came up behind Captain America. Skilled as he was against some of the best grapplers in the world, the living legend made quick work of the faux-Asp with a karate chop to the neck.
“They’ll be depending most on surprise. Keep alert and fight on!”
Free Spirit heard the rattling, and leaped over an energy blast. A custodial closet was revealed when a door was blasted open. As the mops spilled out, Free Spirit grabbed one and snapped off the mop head in one smooth motion. She rushed at the source of the rattling blast, and another snake-themed man came into view. Emphasis on snake. The lower half of his body was a massive serpentine tail, the tip of which extended over his head.
Without assistance of her broken wood shaft, Free Spirit vaulted into the space between his head and the rattling tail end. She hurled the pointed shaft at the mid-point of the tail on the ground. As it pierced through, creating a shower of sparks, Free Spirit kicked back and collided with the man’s back just below the neck. He fell forward but was stopped short by the affixed tail. Free Spirit continued forward, grabbing the tail just below the heavily rattling end and forced it against the damaged section.
“How much farther could it be?” Free Spirit yelled over the small explosion she rolled away from. “Do we even know this is the right floor?”
“Our information is solid,” said Captain America. His shield blocked a powerful blow from a squat man with massive, mechanically augmented arms. Standing behind this man was a much taller man with an elongated neck and tubes that protruded from just under his jaw. “The executive penthouse is just on the other side of this wall!”
As he yelled this, Captain America threw his shield. The tall man was struck in the shoulder, spinning him around just as his mouth opened an unnatural length. There was no time for him to prevent the acid from spraying out. Instead of Captain America it struck the wall he’d indicated, and it began to break down with a sickening hiss.
Captain America leaped over the pale copy of Rock Python, confident that Free Spirit could deal with him. His elbow struck the back of the faux Puff Adder’s neck. Spinning around, Captain America grabbed his shield on its return and smashed it against his stunned foe, driving him away.
* * *
Jack Flag fought on the steps of the U.S. Capitol against a surging crowd. Of course, as a member of Congress he made sure not to strike the first blow. He had walked down the steps slowly, hands raised to his chest, urging the unruly crowd to disperse. The moment hands were placed on him and he saw the zip-ties, however, Jack struck out at the identified insurgents.
The masked head lurched forward, shattering a man’s nose and causing blood to spurt. Jack moved fast, grabbing zip-ties and binding hands in a smooth motion. Leaping over several insurgents, Jack Flag snatched a flag pole. He ripped off the flag of treason as he vaulted backwards, leaving it to get tangled up in bodies.
Landing several steps up from the crowd, Jack Flag held the metal pole aggressively. “Last chance. Disperse or be dealt with.”
The mob surged forward. Jack Flag leaped high to land in their midst. He swung the pole around to create space. It smashed against bodies and hands struggled to keep it in place, but Jack’s strength helped to maintain control.
After less than a minute of knocking insurgents down, Jack realized that most of the crowd was still charging forward. They were moving around him, advancing up the capital steps. The pole planted against the ground, Jack pulled himself up and pushed off the metal. The spectacular backflip took him ahead of the mob. He landed with a roundhouse kick, nearly taking the bison headdress off one man.
The mass of bodies continued forward. Even with a strength greater than five men, Jack Flag struggled. For every individual brought down by a punch or kick, three more were grabbing at him. Hands pulled at his ankles, and Jack had to grabbed a railing to prevent himself falling onto the steps. He didn’t see how he could last more than a few breaths.
A small object flashed past Jack’s vision, and a woman who was grabbing at him suddenly recoiled. A viscous liquid had splattered across her face. Streams of semi-solid projectiles were falling from the sky, striking everyone around Jack but somehow he was spared. When he risked a glance upwards, Jack Flag saw the multitude of birds.
Making use of the momentary grace, Jack battered away from the disgusted masses and pulled a communication device out of one of his pockets. Placing it into his ear Jack heard a familiar voice and smiled. “Falcon, thanks for the assist.”
“I’m always willing to support my Congressman.” A black man in a costume of red, white and blue flew low over the crowd. From his vibranium wings, colored in a similar pattern, specialized slits created an ultra-high frequency pitch that pained the skulls of anyone less tough that Jack. “Is he safe inside?”
“So far as I know everyone is secure.” Jack could see that high up the steps at the building’s entrance, the Capital Police were apprehending the few who had gotten past him. “Did you happen to see any more reinforcements on your way in?”
“No, and the few chatter I heard was to let this play out. Then when its over, identify and arrest who they could.” Sam Wilson, the long-time friend and partner of Captain America otherwise known as Falcon, crashed into the sea of white faces. Those who weren’t immediately knocked aside tried to swarm over him, but the vibranium wings folded in as a shield. Falcon then threw the wings back and out, driving dozens back as he returned to the sky.
“Yeah, I was getting to the point of rethinking my strategy,” Jack Flag admitted. “But with you here, now I’m starting to think this could be put down properly.”
As another wave of birds unloaded their waste on the fragile mob, Falcon smiled. “It would be my genuine pleasure.”
* * *
“On your left.”
Captain America flung himself aside as Free Spirit bodily lifted the man meant to be Rock Python. Displaying a strength that rivaled the Super Soldier of WWI, the slight woman threw the squat man at the weakened wall. He smashed through into a spacious office lounge with expensive decoration, and landed prone at the feet of Roxxon’s once-and-again CEO.
“Totally uncalled for,” Hugh Jones bellowed. “Sad, really. What kind of animals ignore a perfect door?”
Captain America was next to move through the opening, followed by Free Spirit. Hugh kicked at his employee, and the man was rapidly shot at Captain America. Even blocking the body with his shield, Captain America felt the force of impact wash over his body. The power of Serpent Crown was being used.
"If anything of Hugh Jones is left in there, you can still be a decent man and fight it!”
Hugh Jones laughed the laugh of a man who had only ever made a show of humor. “Money and power isn’t for the decent. That is why America has so little of it. Give in to my control, and truly represent the nation whose flag you wear!”
A beam of pure energy arced from the Serpent Crown atop Hugh’s head and struck the “A” in the center of Captain America’s forehead. With a pained cry, the hero fell to his knees.
“Cap!” Free Spirit grabbed a tall potted plant and flung it at Hugh Jones. It burst into flames a almost a foot from his body, and was immediately reduced to ashes. Free Spirit moved toward Captain America, but was flung away by an unseen force.
“Aside woman! Important business is being discussed.” Hugh Jones stepped forward. The arc of influence was flowing into Captain America. “What I represent is what you have always done. Maintain the status quo, stay the holding pattern, keep the rabble occupied as we at the top make our money.”
“As you hoard, you mean.” Rising to plant one foot, but still on one knee, Captain America locked eyes with Hugh Jones. “Fortunes rise and fall. Laws enacted and repealed. Policies changed at the whims of the poll. The decent try to appease because of the costs of conflict. And the cruel take but always want more. I gave you your chance. Now is when we put you down.”
That red, white and blue shield rushed at Hugh Jones. Behind it was the full force of the Living Legend of World War II. But Hugh Jones laughed in the face of Captain America’s advance. From the Serpent Crown of Set power erupted, and the decent man it was directed at froze.
“I did give you that chance. Now I am the one to put you down! If not my tool, you will be my example!”
Hugh gathered the power atop his crown, poised to hurl it at the man in front of him. He’d completely missed that “we” was the key word from Captain America’s lips.
The opposite wall crashed in and Hugh Jones whipped around. He could just barely see the small, one-man vehicle hovering outside in the pouring rain. Most of his vision was filled by the rocky-skinned, orange-hued form of the Thing!
“It’s Clobbering Time!”
A massive fist was coming for the head of Hugh Jones. But the Serpent Crown of Set was immune to surprise. The power that had been gathered for Captain America instead struck out at the Thing, a thick arc of otherworldly power striking him between the eyes. The idol of millions cried out and froze in place.
At the same time, a recovered Free Spirit leapt at Hugh Jones from behind. As energy erupted from the Serpent Crown, the young woman’s hands grabbed at it. An instant earlier, contact with such power may have ripped Free Spirit apart. An instant later, Hugh Jones would have been prepared to defend himself. In that ideal moment, Free Spirit has seized the Serpent Crown of Set.
“No!” Hugh Jones reached fruitlessly as Free Spirit somersaulted over him.
“Cap, catch!” As she moved to land on her feet, Free Spirit hurled the crown toward Captain America. She didn’t wait to see him cover the crown with the back of the shield before she rushed forward a the overweight, balding creep. “As for you…”
Free Spirit put her full weight behind smashing her fist against the sweaty, discolored face of Hugh Jones. His bulbous nose shattered and sprayed blood. Stripped of his otherworldly power, the older man fell with a pathetic cry of pain. The young woman kicked between his legs for good measure.
“It’s our time, boomer.”
Pressing his shield against the floor and keeping the Serpent Crown covered, Captain America looked to Thing. “Are you all right, friend?”
Thing shook his head, clearing the cobwebs. “Yeah. That was a heck of a whammy. I’ve taken worse.”
Captain America looked at the whimpering Hugh Jones with a lop-sided mix of derision and pity. The Serpent Crown had maintained an illusion of clothes, so he lying prone in a hospital gown and soiled underwear. A flash of movement drew his attention, and Captain America looked at a massive television set that had been on this entire time. Breaking news of a riot at the U.S. Capital.
“That has to have been his influence,” Captain America said. “With the Serpent Crown contained, the madness should subside.”
“A mob like that ain’t gonna cool off right away,” said Thing. “They can still do damage ‘till then.”
“You’re assuming they want to stop,” said Free Spirit. “This fuddled guy was strongest on like minds. Those who want to be ruled, as long as those they want hurt are still beneath them.”
“If that’s the case when I get there, I’ll handle it.” Captain America looked at Thing. “Can I borrow your ride?”
* * *
Falcon and Jack Flag stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the courtyard of the Capital Building. The ground was covered in bird shit and prone bodies. The raging mob had mainly been put down. Many of the unconscious assailants were only moderately injured at the worst, and a fair number of those not lying in the excrement were kneeling in it, restrained by Capital Police officers. Most had run off, more than likely soaking wet.
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” said Jack Flag. “Those birds must really like you, to be handling a fire hose.”
“Well, a lot of birds have had the hose treatment themselves,” said Falcon. “I would imagine it felt good to turn it back around.”
“And did it?” Jack asked. “Feel good.”
“Oh it sure did,” Sam said with a grin. At the steady, distant sound, he looked up and saw the approaching helicopters. “It looks like the people you’re supposed to have oversight of have finally gotten off their butts.”
“I predict hearings rehashing what we already know and resulting in no new legislation.” Jack threw the bare flag pole to the ground and raised his hands in a non-threatening fashion. “I might as well not give them an excuse.”
Falcon looked down at all the white people lying at the feet of a black man, and shook his head. “If they’re going to shoot me no matter what, I may as well keep my head high.”
All but one of the helicopters passed over with no action. One landed on a relatively clear space, its rotors kicking up dust and fine bird shit. Jack Flag recognized the Secretary of Defense as he disembarked. He also noticed the cut lip and swelling on the right side of the Cabinet official’s face.
“Sir.” Jack lowered his hands and took a relaxed stance. “The immediate threat has been dealt with. Capital Police would certainly appreciate help with rounding up the insurgents.”
“We’ve established a perimeter and moving vehicles for prisoner transport. I’m sorry it’s taken so long” The SoD touched a hand to his head. “A lot of us weren’t exactly fit to act. Our minds were feeling muddled. Luckily, Captain America came and gave us the proper direction.”
“Where is he now?” Falcon asked.
“He figured that you were here. Said he saw your flocks as he flew in, and told me to ask you to meet him.”
* * *
Most of the cemetery were simple white stones, but those considered of particular importance had their own individualized monuments. One such site was where Falcon met Captain America. Having known where the once high-ranking government official’s allegiances had truly been, Falcon noticed the subtle markings of this and was disgusted.
“We should have told everybody what he really was.”
Captain America nodded. “I regret that I wasn’t willing to argue with those who decided otherwise. And now I suspect that, were the truth known, he would still be venerated as a great man.”
He turned to look at Falcon. “I’m sorry for all those times that I would downplay the reality of what you faced every day. There’s a cancer in this country that’s taken hold of every system of governance, and I’ve been sleeping on them for far too long.”
Falcon was looking down at the name he wanted to spit on. “The worst thing is that the Secret Empire would have won if they hadn’t overplayed their hand like that. Sending armed goons directly at us, secretly kidnapping mutants, it was so stupid. They had legitimate power, controlled information, in due time you and I would have been in custody. They could have taken complete control.”
“Except they weren’t really united,” Captain America said. “Even as he appeared to be Number 1, those just beneath were working against him. They looked for their own angles, pushed at a resistance they could crush after he was brought down. The mess I was, after, they could have succeeded if it weren’t for others.”
“And we never manage to fully cut them out.” Falcon gave in to the urge. “However often we beat them down, they just keep coming back more brazen. Because they know that we can’t, or won’t, fully challenge the systems they depend on.”
Captain America turned away from the stone. “There have been times that I’ve wondered, if I did really challenge things, how much of America would show me who they really are.”
“At least a third,” Falcon answered. “Maybe even more than half, though a lot probably wouldn’t admit it.”
“It doesn’t matter how many. I don’t care anymore. Even if I end up alone.” Looking at Falcon, Captan America knows he wouldn’t be. “I’ll go to the courthouses, the borders, the hospitals and the prisons. Wherever they mean to do cruelty, I’ll stand in their way, and dare them to try and move me.”
“And if they do?” Falcon asked.
A fist formed at Captain America’s side. “Then the world will watch Captain America punch fascists in the face.”
TWO YEARS LATER: Learn who fooled around and found out.
The surface of the suspended bridge, already smooth, was made slick by the thin layer of water. Even with the specialized tread of Captain America’s boots, the footing was difficult. The high winds contributed to the danger. One slight misstep, and Captain America would find himself careening thousands of feet to his death.
The four heavily armed guards possessed all the advantages that Captain America lacked. Specialized helmets ensured complete awareness of their surroundings, and magnetic boots maintained a firm footing. Their high-powered automatic rifles and coordinated fire expelled an uninterrupted stream of death. In another second, they would alert central command of Captain America’s presence, and he could expect reinforcements to fire on him from multiple angles.
Running at full speed, Captain America threw his shield down and jumped. Against the low-friction surface, the shield traveled at remarkable speed. Possessed of a magnetic pull, those boots made quick footwork almost impossible. The shield struck the shins of two guards, disrupting their movements as they tried to raise their rifle muzzles.
The ever-so-brief opening was all that Captain America needed. Twisting his body to avoid the streams of bullets, he landed amidst the four guards. In swift, minimal motions, Captain America took two rifles in hand and swung about. Helmets cracked against the force, skulls inside fared little better, and bodies with magnetic boots slumped awkwardly. Dropping the rifles, Captain America lunged for his shield as it shot off the bridge.
The movement was ill-advised. Though Captain America managed to securely take his shield in one hand, his other failed to grip the guard-rail. Fortunately, a smaller hand took hold of Captain America by the wrist. He dangled over the side, the ground obscured by the storm. Crouched on the guard-rail, Free Spirit considered Captain America’s situation.
“That would have been quite a fall.”
“Thank you,” Captain America said as he flipped back onto the bridge. Free Spirit dropped to equal footing with him, and together they moved quickly. As they neared the building’s rooftop, Free Spirit leaped high to avoid the surveillance camera’s line of sight, while Captain America dropped low.
“They probably know we’re here by now,” Free Spirit said. The access panel into the building was heavy and secure. One kick from her relatively small yet powerfully built body broke it apart. High frequency alarms were barely discernible on the edge of her hearing. “Now they definitely know.”
“Then we’ll have more to go through,” Captain America said matter-of-factly. “As many as we have to, until we reach Hugh Jones and halt the damage he’s doing.”
* * *
Never before had Jack Harrison been so disgusted. Some of the fools he served with in the House of Representatives were at that moment in the chamber arguing to remove the Speaker and replace her with Hugh Jones. Shaking with rage, Jack moved to leave the chamber. A colleague from the other side smirked at him, and Jack resisted the urge to deliver a brutal beating to the credibly accused sex trafficker.
As he seethed that such despicable people could be elected into any position of power, Jack saw officers of the Capital Police gathered in the hallway. There was heavy activity on their radios. Jack’s impressive hearing could make out most of it. A large crowd of people were advancing on the Capital.
“What’s going on?” Jack asked one of the officer.
“There is a situation happening outside. It may be nothing. Right now we’re observing, but it would be best if everybody was in the chamber. That way if things escalate we can move you all to safety.”
“I’ll be in my office,” Jack said. “If there are new developments you can reach me directly.”
Representative Jack Harrison walked away over the officer’s objections. From what radio chatter he could overhear, the situation was escalating. If it was connected this sudden reverence towards a man that just emerged from a coma, it may not be natural and therefore Jack couldn’t be sure who to trust. Jack’s first priority was to his staff.
Most of his Capitol staff were in their designated office space. To his chief Jack said, “There is a situation happening. Please reach out to everyone that is scheduled absent and confirm their whereabouts.”
“Okay. Will we need to go somewhere?”
There was breaking news on a large television in the office. The crowd outside the Capital Building was massive and moving. Jack opened the door to his private office and went for his desk. The bottom drawer was protected by a keypad, and opened automatically when Jack entered the code. He removed a stylized mask that resembled a bandana. There wouldn’t be time for anything else.
“It’s best if you barricade yourselves here. Keep the television on for updates. I’m not certain how well you can trust anyone that contacts you. If you see me killed on camera, you’ll know how bad it is.”
As his Chief of Staff tried to reassure the others, Jack Flag left the office with the mask over his face. It had purpose beyond any meager attempt to hide his identity. To Jack, the colors represented why he served, what needed defending, and who to trust.
On his way out, Jack Flag encountered another colleague from across the aisle. This one forced a despicable laugh at seeing the mask.
“I can’t wait to see them hang your ass. All you traitors will-”
This time Jack Flag did not resist the urge. One punch was all it took to knock his Committee Chair to the floor. Jack then moved with haste, rushing past Capital Police who ordered him to halt. He leaped over the security screening and out the main entrance. On the steps, the sea of hate filled his vision.
This was no spontaneous crowd storming the seat of government. Jack Flag saw special outfits and accessories that no casual tourists would have brought on a trip. These people had been prepared, waiting for orders.
When the crowd first made contact with the barricades and the Capital Police, Jack Flag rushed forward. Behind the mask, he was smiling. No reason to hold back.
* * *
Captain America was done with stairs, choosing instead to drop through the central shaft of the stairwell. Armed guards had already entered below and were firing up at the falling Super-Soldier. As he twisted his body to avoid bullets and deflect others with his shield, Captain America reflected on the hours that led him to this moment. It had been a madcap since he was first shown the news conference by Hugh Jones, and seen the twisted Serpent Crown of Set atop the head of Roxxon’s former and once-again Chief Executive Officer.
Of course Captain America had made calls. To SHIELD and the Avengers first, then a select few after. When Jarvis had answered at the mansion, and acted as though it was perfectly normal to do what Hugh Jones wanted whatever he asked because he could only have gotten so rich and powerful by being such a brilliant and charismatic leader, Captain America had an idea of how the Serpent Crown was slithering its way through the psyche of the world. Unfortunately, many millions were already so conditioned to trust in the established institutions, to believe that those of great success could have only achieved such through hard work and being inherently better.
Steve Rogers may even have believed that at one point. Before he saw so many decent people brought low and deplorable monsters raised high by what seemed to be the whims of fate. So many factors could determine the course of a person’s life, almost all outside of their control. If skepticism of the world’s power structures afforded any protection from the Serpent Crown, Captain America needed to act fast before that faded.
Fortunately, Free Spirit had also recognized the nightmare of what was going on. Together, they had quickly made contact with others who had not slumbered. Intelligence was gathered. Transportation was arranged. Now Captain America and Free Spirit were in free fall amidst a hail of bullets, uncertain if the promised back-up will ever arrive.
Free Spirit fell past Captain America and reached shooters first, taking out several with split kicks. One armed guard she grabbed and through at another, displaying strength well beyond her slight if toned frame. While she perched atop a railing and brawled with guards entering through a door, Captain America landed into a roll one floor above. In the smooth roll he grabbed a keycard from one of the downed guards and slides it to open the door as he rose to a standing position.
“Up here! This is the-“
*Skritt!*
As soon as Captain America was through the door, long purple talons slashed against his shield. A humanoid figure of green and purple stood before him. In addition to the long talons on each hand, he had a long reptilian tail and a green fin down his head. Even before noticing the lack of a mouth, Captain America recognized the features that had belonged to Death Adder of the Serpent Society.
“I don’t have time for this.” Blocking a second swipe with his shield, Captain America drove his free fist forward against the man’s face. The Death Adder he’d previously encountered was dangerous, but he was also dead. Given how rapidly this man crumbled, there had been no resurrection.
Free Spirit emerged in the doorway behind Captain America. “That looked like a nasty piece of work.”
“The Serpent Society was employed by Roxxon in the past. We may encounter some of the genuine members.”
“So this stable genius is recycling bad ideas? I’m starting to worry that we may underestimate him.”
“Be careful. He’s not playing 10th dimensional chess. Hugh Jones seeks world domination, and the Serpent Crown is the means to manipulate everybody. It’s one of many resources that he has, but the man himself is nobody special. We go in with clear eyes, fully aware of the power behind him, and we give it everything we have.”
They were running towards and intersection in the hallway. A perfect spot for an ambush. Captain America made a low dive, his shield held out sideways. Just over his head he heard the chomp of large metal jaws.
Where Captain America went low, Free Spirit went high. Moments after the colorfully clad serpent-themed cyborg closed his weaponized maw, Free Spirit grabbed it at the seams. As she flipped and twisted her body, Free Spirit wrenched the mechanical jaw apart in her hands and kicked at the head. Missing his lower jaw, the man crashed against the wall, unconscious.
Captain America glanced behind to confirm whether this was the genuine Cottonmouth. “Another hired gun dressed as a professional. Whatever training they may have gone through, they won’t be as skilled as the real Serpent Society.”
As he was talking, a man with elongated limbs came up behind Captain America. Skilled as he was against some of the best grapplers in the world, the living legend made quick work of the faux-Asp with a karate chop to the neck.
“They’ll be depending most on surprise. Keep alert and fight on!”
Free Spirit heard the rattling, and leaped over an energy blast. A custodial closet was revealed when a door was blasted open. As the mops spilled out, Free Spirit grabbed one and snapped off the mop head in one smooth motion. She rushed at the source of the rattling blast, and another snake-themed man came into view. Emphasis on snake. The lower half of his body was a massive serpentine tail, the tip of which extended over his head.
Without assistance of her broken wood shaft, Free Spirit vaulted into the space between his head and the rattling tail end. She hurled the pointed shaft at the mid-point of the tail on the ground. As it pierced through, creating a shower of sparks, Free Spirit kicked back and collided with the man’s back just below the neck. He fell forward but was stopped short by the affixed tail. Free Spirit continued forward, grabbing the tail just below the heavily rattling end and forced it against the damaged section.
“How much farther could it be?” Free Spirit yelled over the small explosion she rolled away from. “Do we even know this is the right floor?”
“Our information is solid,” said Captain America. His shield blocked a powerful blow from a squat man with massive, mechanically augmented arms. Standing behind this man was a much taller man with an elongated neck and tubes that protruded from just under his jaw. “The executive penthouse is just on the other side of this wall!”
As he yelled this, Captain America threw his shield. The tall man was struck in the shoulder, spinning him around just as his mouth opened an unnatural length. There was no time for him to prevent the acid from spraying out. Instead of Captain America it struck the wall he’d indicated, and it began to break down with a sickening hiss.
Captain America leaped over the pale copy of Rock Python, confident that Free Spirit could deal with him. His elbow struck the back of the faux Puff Adder’s neck. Spinning around, Captain America grabbed his shield on its return and smashed it against his stunned foe, driving him away.
* * *
Jack Flag fought on the steps of the U.S. Capitol against a surging crowd. Of course, as a member of Congress he made sure not to strike the first blow. He had walked down the steps slowly, hands raised to his chest, urging the unruly crowd to disperse. The moment hands were placed on him and he saw the zip-ties, however, Jack struck out at the identified insurgents.
The masked head lurched forward, shattering a man’s nose and causing blood to spurt. Jack moved fast, grabbing zip-ties and binding hands in a smooth motion. Leaping over several insurgents, Jack Flag snatched a flag pole. He ripped off the flag of treason as he vaulted backwards, leaving it to get tangled up in bodies.
Landing several steps up from the crowd, Jack Flag held the metal pole aggressively. “Last chance. Disperse or be dealt with.”
The mob surged forward. Jack Flag leaped high to land in their midst. He swung the pole around to create space. It smashed against bodies and hands struggled to keep it in place, but Jack’s strength helped to maintain control.
After less than a minute of knocking insurgents down, Jack realized that most of the crowd was still charging forward. They were moving around him, advancing up the capital steps. The pole planted against the ground, Jack pulled himself up and pushed off the metal. The spectacular backflip took him ahead of the mob. He landed with a roundhouse kick, nearly taking the bison headdress off one man.
The mass of bodies continued forward. Even with a strength greater than five men, Jack Flag struggled. For every individual brought down by a punch or kick, three more were grabbing at him. Hands pulled at his ankles, and Jack had to grabbed a railing to prevent himself falling onto the steps. He didn’t see how he could last more than a few breaths.
A small object flashed past Jack’s vision, and a woman who was grabbing at him suddenly recoiled. A viscous liquid had splattered across her face. Streams of semi-solid projectiles were falling from the sky, striking everyone around Jack but somehow he was spared. When he risked a glance upwards, Jack Flag saw the multitude of birds.
Making use of the momentary grace, Jack battered away from the disgusted masses and pulled a communication device out of one of his pockets. Placing it into his ear Jack heard a familiar voice and smiled. “Falcon, thanks for the assist.”
“I’m always willing to support my Congressman.” A black man in a costume of red, white and blue flew low over the crowd. From his vibranium wings, colored in a similar pattern, specialized slits created an ultra-high frequency pitch that pained the skulls of anyone less tough that Jack. “Is he safe inside?”
“So far as I know everyone is secure.” Jack could see that high up the steps at the building’s entrance, the Capital Police were apprehending the few who had gotten past him. “Did you happen to see any more reinforcements on your way in?”
“No, and the few chatter I heard was to let this play out. Then when its over, identify and arrest who they could.” Sam Wilson, the long-time friend and partner of Captain America otherwise known as Falcon, crashed into the sea of white faces. Those who weren’t immediately knocked aside tried to swarm over him, but the vibranium wings folded in as a shield. Falcon then threw the wings back and out, driving dozens back as he returned to the sky.
“Yeah, I was getting to the point of rethinking my strategy,” Jack Flag admitted. “But with you here, now I’m starting to think this could be put down properly.”
As another wave of birds unloaded their waste on the fragile mob, Falcon smiled. “It would be my genuine pleasure.”
* * *
“On your left.”
Captain America flung himself aside as Free Spirit bodily lifted the man meant to be Rock Python. Displaying a strength that rivaled the Super Soldier of WWI, the slight woman threw the squat man at the weakened wall. He smashed through into a spacious office lounge with expensive decoration, and landed prone at the feet of Roxxon’s once-and-again CEO.
“Totally uncalled for,” Hugh Jones bellowed. “Sad, really. What kind of animals ignore a perfect door?”
Captain America was next to move through the opening, followed by Free Spirit. Hugh kicked at his employee, and the man was rapidly shot at Captain America. Even blocking the body with his shield, Captain America felt the force of impact wash over his body. The power of Serpent Crown was being used.
"If anything of Hugh Jones is left in there, you can still be a decent man and fight it!”
Hugh Jones laughed the laugh of a man who had only ever made a show of humor. “Money and power isn’t for the decent. That is why America has so little of it. Give in to my control, and truly represent the nation whose flag you wear!”
A beam of pure energy arced from the Serpent Crown atop Hugh’s head and struck the “A” in the center of Captain America’s forehead. With a pained cry, the hero fell to his knees.
“Cap!” Free Spirit grabbed a tall potted plant and flung it at Hugh Jones. It burst into flames a almost a foot from his body, and was immediately reduced to ashes. Free Spirit moved toward Captain America, but was flung away by an unseen force.
“Aside woman! Important business is being discussed.” Hugh Jones stepped forward. The arc of influence was flowing into Captain America. “What I represent is what you have always done. Maintain the status quo, stay the holding pattern, keep the rabble occupied as we at the top make our money.”
“As you hoard, you mean.” Rising to plant one foot, but still on one knee, Captain America locked eyes with Hugh Jones. “Fortunes rise and fall. Laws enacted and repealed. Policies changed at the whims of the poll. The decent try to appease because of the costs of conflict. And the cruel take but always want more. I gave you your chance. Now is when we put you down.”
That red, white and blue shield rushed at Hugh Jones. Behind it was the full force of the Living Legend of World War II. But Hugh Jones laughed in the face of Captain America’s advance. From the Serpent Crown of Set power erupted, and the decent man it was directed at froze.
“I did give you that chance. Now I am the one to put you down! If not my tool, you will be my example!”
Hugh gathered the power atop his crown, poised to hurl it at the man in front of him. He’d completely missed that “we” was the key word from Captain America’s lips.
The opposite wall crashed in and Hugh Jones whipped around. He could just barely see the small, one-man vehicle hovering outside in the pouring rain. Most of his vision was filled by the rocky-skinned, orange-hued form of the Thing!
“It’s Clobbering Time!”
A massive fist was coming for the head of Hugh Jones. But the Serpent Crown of Set was immune to surprise. The power that had been gathered for Captain America instead struck out at the Thing, a thick arc of otherworldly power striking him between the eyes. The idol of millions cried out and froze in place.
At the same time, a recovered Free Spirit leapt at Hugh Jones from behind. As energy erupted from the Serpent Crown, the young woman’s hands grabbed at it. An instant earlier, contact with such power may have ripped Free Spirit apart. An instant later, Hugh Jones would have been prepared to defend himself. In that ideal moment, Free Spirit has seized the Serpent Crown of Set.
“No!” Hugh Jones reached fruitlessly as Free Spirit somersaulted over him.
“Cap, catch!” As she moved to land on her feet, Free Spirit hurled the crown toward Captain America. She didn’t wait to see him cover the crown with the back of the shield before she rushed forward a the overweight, balding creep. “As for you…”
Free Spirit put her full weight behind smashing her fist against the sweaty, discolored face of Hugh Jones. His bulbous nose shattered and sprayed blood. Stripped of his otherworldly power, the older man fell with a pathetic cry of pain. The young woman kicked between his legs for good measure.
“It’s our time, boomer.”
Pressing his shield against the floor and keeping the Serpent Crown covered, Captain America looked to Thing. “Are you all right, friend?”
Thing shook his head, clearing the cobwebs. “Yeah. That was a heck of a whammy. I’ve taken worse.”
Captain America looked at the whimpering Hugh Jones with a lop-sided mix of derision and pity. The Serpent Crown had maintained an illusion of clothes, so he lying prone in a hospital gown and soiled underwear. A flash of movement drew his attention, and Captain America looked at a massive television set that had been on this entire time. Breaking news of a riot at the U.S. Capital.
“That has to have been his influence,” Captain America said. “With the Serpent Crown contained, the madness should subside.”
“A mob like that ain’t gonna cool off right away,” said Thing. “They can still do damage ‘till then.”
“You’re assuming they want to stop,” said Free Spirit. “This fuddled guy was strongest on like minds. Those who want to be ruled, as long as those they want hurt are still beneath them.”
“If that’s the case when I get there, I’ll handle it.” Captain America looked at Thing. “Can I borrow your ride?”
* * *
Falcon and Jack Flag stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the courtyard of the Capital Building. The ground was covered in bird shit and prone bodies. The raging mob had mainly been put down. Many of the unconscious assailants were only moderately injured at the worst, and a fair number of those not lying in the excrement were kneeling in it, restrained by Capital Police officers. Most had run off, more than likely soaking wet.
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes,” said Jack Flag. “Those birds must really like you, to be handling a fire hose.”
“Well, a lot of birds have had the hose treatment themselves,” said Falcon. “I would imagine it felt good to turn it back around.”
“And did it?” Jack asked. “Feel good.”
“Oh it sure did,” Sam said with a grin. At the steady, distant sound, he looked up and saw the approaching helicopters. “It looks like the people you’re supposed to have oversight of have finally gotten off their butts.”
“I predict hearings rehashing what we already know and resulting in no new legislation.” Jack threw the bare flag pole to the ground and raised his hands in a non-threatening fashion. “I might as well not give them an excuse.”
Falcon looked down at all the white people lying at the feet of a black man, and shook his head. “If they’re going to shoot me no matter what, I may as well keep my head high.”
All but one of the helicopters passed over with no action. One landed on a relatively clear space, its rotors kicking up dust and fine bird shit. Jack Flag recognized the Secretary of Defense as he disembarked. He also noticed the cut lip and swelling on the right side of the Cabinet official’s face.
“Sir.” Jack lowered his hands and took a relaxed stance. “The immediate threat has been dealt with. Capital Police would certainly appreciate help with rounding up the insurgents.”
“We’ve established a perimeter and moving vehicles for prisoner transport. I’m sorry it’s taken so long” The SoD touched a hand to his head. “A lot of us weren’t exactly fit to act. Our minds were feeling muddled. Luckily, Captain America came and gave us the proper direction.”
“Where is he now?” Falcon asked.
“He figured that you were here. Said he saw your flocks as he flew in, and told me to ask you to meet him.”
* * *
Most of the cemetery were simple white stones, but those considered of particular importance had their own individualized monuments. One such site was where Falcon met Captain America. Having known where the once high-ranking government official’s allegiances had truly been, Falcon noticed the subtle markings of this and was disgusted.
“We should have told everybody what he really was.”
Captain America nodded. “I regret that I wasn’t willing to argue with those who decided otherwise. And now I suspect that, were the truth known, he would still be venerated as a great man.”
He turned to look at Falcon. “I’m sorry for all those times that I would downplay the reality of what you faced every day. There’s a cancer in this country that’s taken hold of every system of governance, and I’ve been sleeping on them for far too long.”
Falcon was looking down at the name he wanted to spit on. “The worst thing is that the Secret Empire would have won if they hadn’t overplayed their hand like that. Sending armed goons directly at us, secretly kidnapping mutants, it was so stupid. They had legitimate power, controlled information, in due time you and I would have been in custody. They could have taken complete control.”
“Except they weren’t really united,” Captain America said. “Even as he appeared to be Number 1, those just beneath were working against him. They looked for their own angles, pushed at a resistance they could crush after he was brought down. The mess I was, after, they could have succeeded if it weren’t for others.”
“And we never manage to fully cut them out.” Falcon gave in to the urge. “However often we beat them down, they just keep coming back more brazen. Because they know that we can’t, or won’t, fully challenge the systems they depend on.”
Captain America turned away from the stone. “There have been times that I’ve wondered, if I did really challenge things, how much of America would show me who they really are.”
“At least a third,” Falcon answered. “Maybe even more than half, though a lot probably wouldn’t admit it.”
“It doesn’t matter how many. I don’t care anymore. Even if I end up alone.” Looking at Falcon, Captan America knows he wouldn’t be. “I’ll go to the courthouses, the borders, the hospitals and the prisons. Wherever they mean to do cruelty, I’ll stand in their way, and dare them to try and move me.”
“And if they do?” Falcon asked.
A fist formed at Captain America’s side. “Then the world will watch Captain America punch fascists in the face.”
TWO YEARS LATER: Learn who fooled around and found out.