The front gates of the Vault open. Out march two figures, side-by-side. As they get closer, they are readily identifiable as Cathy Webster and Jack Flag. They look into the sky, where they can see an approaching aircraft, one which bears the familiar logo of the Avengers. The quinjet lands, and the craft entrance opens. Out steps Zack Moonstone (the pilot of the craft), and Captain America. Cathy breaks into a run, and leaps into a fierce hug with Cap.
"Boy, am I glad to be out of there!" exclaims Cathy. "I hope you don't mind being seen with an ex-con, Cap..." she adds, attempting humor.
Steve frowns briefly, remembering his ill-fated relationship with Diamondback. With all of the things which had happened since the super-soldier formula running through his veins turned on him [ The Fighting Chance storyline -- Annotative' Dave ], he hasn't had much time to dwell on her continued absence and lack of contact. The last time he saw her she was dressed in Snapdragon's costume, working for Superia. "But she helped Free Spirit...I wish I knew what was going on..."
"Piece of cake, Cap. Antonio* sends his regards. [ *Antonio Rodriguez, the Armadillo -- Recollectin' Dave ] comments Jack, shaking Cap's outstretched hand. On the way back Cap catches them up with what has happened to date - his sojourn into the Franklinverse, his return, his encounter with Gyrich and Flag-Smasher. Cathy is eager to return to her role as Free Spirit, but Jack is reluctant to return as Jack Flagg - he had believed that Cap, the rest of the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four, were dead. He came to understand that the hero game means death at any moment, and while he wants to remain as part of Cap's team, he doesn't believe that he's cut out for mortal peril on an ongoing basis - he'd rather serve in a role similar to John Jameson or Zack. Cap reassures him that he understands and doesn't think any less of him for his decision, and that there will always be room for him.
Meanwhile....Diamondback is hiding in a tunnel from some flunky guards dressed in snake-motif guard uniforms, and armed with Kirby-esque blaster rifles. She observes as the guards change, and the new guards settle into position. After the new guards report in, she attacks them and knocks them down-and-out. The guards were guarding the entrance to a hanger, where Diamondback hot-wires a vehicle and escapes.
Cap and company return to the Avengers Mansion, where Cap has called a press conference to announce the new change for the Sentinals Of Liberty Hotline.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for coming.I'd like to announce that the Sentinals Of Liberty Hotline, effective immediately, will take calls as I originally intended - to act as a place where the American public can call when they need help, or when they notice unusual crimes or unsafe conditions.
I had never intended the Hotline to act as a system for reporting mutants, especially not given the recent efforts of Operation: Zero Tolerance. There is a growing prejudice, an anti-Mutant hysteria, and we have to stop it now, before it grows out of control.
Mutants are not inherently good or evil; they are men and women like ourselves, and the only way we should judge them is the way we should judge anyone - by their actions. Not by whether or not they were born with a difference, whether that difference is a mutation, different skin color, or ethnic or religeous background. Whenever we condemn someone for a condition of their birth we diminish the light of liberty, and the fires of freedom diminish.
It is easy to fear people who are different, or who you believe might represent a potential threat. But to give into those fears, to blame them for events which are not their fault, is to take a step on the same path which led to the shameful interrment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, and which ultimately leads to the same evils we fought against in that war against the Axis regimes.
After the defeat of Onslaught, anti-mutant groups fanned the flames of hatred by blaming the X-Men for the apparent loss of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers; nothing could have been further from the truth. Without the teamwork and aid of the X-Men, Onslaught would have succeeded in his plans, and in all likelihood both the Fantastic Four and the Avengers would have died that day. But with teamwork, with understanding, we overcame that threat. I am proud to call members of the X-Men my friends and allies, especially Dr. Hank McCoy, who has also served honorably and with great distinction as an Avenger. And he is not the only mutant to have done so; the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have a long and distinguished history as Avengers, and we would be much poorer without them. They have saved the lives of not only myself, but countless others time and time again.
Martin Luthor King, Jr. had a dream, a dream of freedom and equality for all Americans. We must always keep his ideals in our minds and in our hearts, and move forward together to embrace diversity, equality, and freedom for all Americans, and for all peoples who hold the values of liberty and justice.
Thank you for your time."
The media immediately begins shooting questions, but before Cap can answer any of them a anti-mutant fanatic opens fire at Cap, calling him a traitor to his race. Cap deflects the shots upwards, and Free Spirit leaps forward, disarming and capturing the attacker. Cap takes this opportunity to underscore that the real threat is unreasoning fears and prejudices.
Later that night, Jarvis is about to put the final lights out when an alarm goes off...there is an inbound unidentified aircraft speeding near the building. In fact, its obviously been damaged in battle, since its on fire...it comes down in the street, skipping thrice until it slams into the fence surrounding the Avengers Mansion. Jarvis beats the various heroes (but not by much), and begins putting out the fires with a fire extinguisher. Diamondback staggers from the craft, and collapses in his arms. Jarvis exclaims something properly British like "Oh My!".
Steve puts her to bed in the medical center, but she awakes in a start, declaring that Steve must help her immediately, or LA will go down in flames from the Sons Of The Serpent!
Next Issue - "Sharper Than A Serpents Tooth"