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December
Year 1 |
The SHIELD helicarrier is one of the most magnificent marvels of the current technological age. It is a flying headquarters for the world's foremost spying agency, and at this moment it is also the host to one of earth's greatest heroes.
"Welcome aboard, Captain America," G.W. Bridge greets as he extends a hand towards the newly arrived Avenger as he steps out of his quinjet and onto the helicarrier's hangar deck. "I understand you have a request for SHIELD."
"Yes, and I'm almost afraid to ask since it's really a personal favor," Cap replies as he shakes Bridge's hand, "but I hoped that because of our past alliances you might be able to help me out. If Nick were still here, I'd just take it up with him, but -"
"Hold that thought, Captain," Bridge interrupts. "There's someone here who might be able to help you better than I could."
The doors to the hangar bay of the helicarrier open and in steps Colonel Nick Fury. "Nick!" Cap exclaims. "They told me you were dead (when Cap stopped by for a visit in Cap #449 - Matt) but I knew you were still alive!" Captain America runs to his old friend to greet him.
"Easy, soldier," Fury answers, "it's good ta see you too. Why don't we go back to my office and get caught up?"
"So, Cap, what can I do for ya?" Fury asks as he leans back in the chair behind his desk, lighting a cigar.
"Not so fast, Nick," Cap answers, "first you've got to tell me how you've cheated the grim reaper this time."
"It gets to be old hat fer us, don't it?" Fury grins. "In fact, that wuz the whole point. I'd gotten tired of it all, an' so I faked the whole thing so I could get outta the business fer awhile - do ya know how long it'd been since my last real vacation? Anyway, things didn't exactly work out like I'd hoped (as you can see in Fury's own magazine - Matt) and I'm back. Lately I been keepin' an eye on AIM - funny business has been goin' on there. Unfortunately, I wasn't able ta stop their latest scheme - the rebirth of MODOK (hope you read Defenders #160-161 - Matt sure did). But that's just the tip of the iceberg with what's goin' on."
"Like what?" Cap asks, concerned.
"Well, AIM's split inta two factions. One of 'em is behind the MODOK thing, probably intendin' ta have him as their leader. The other group - well, I haven't been able to find out who's behind that one, but this thing's about ta blow wide open and it's probably gonna take a bunch 'a SHIELD agents to clamp the lid back down. But I got it under control. What did you need?" Fury asks, abruptly changing the subject.
"Well, I've decided I need to get back in touch with the people on the streets," Cap answers. "I'd like SHIELD's help in reestablishing my civilian identity."
"We can do that for ya in five minutes," Nick replies, "but I'm bettin' if yer like yer blond-haired buddy, you want us to find you an apartment while we're at it." (Fury helped Thor get a new ID and place to live way back in Thor #341 - long-term memory Matt)
"Well, if you don't mind Nick," Cap says slowly, clearly not wanting to be an imposition. "It certainly would save me some time.
"Don't worry about it Cap," Fury replies with a wave of his hand. Then he leans forward his face suddenly becoming more serious. "But I may need a favor in return."
"Sure. Name it."
"Deep in my gut I gotta funny feelin' about this AIM business. Can I count on yer help if things go sour?"
"Of course, Nick."
"Glad ta hear it, pal," Fury says as he gets up from his chair. "C'mon, let's get you set up with a new place."
In Arizona, there are vast expanses of open desert, with no visible signs of human activity. The indigenous creatures all go about their normal routines, searching for food or some relief from the blazing heat of the day's sun. Suddenly, there is an explosion, as tons of earth fly into the sky. A gaping hole is left in the ground, revealing a complex underneath. If we were to peer inside that hole, we would see the bodies of several AIM agents, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A sophisticated jet lands near the hole. Several more AIM agents disembark, their blasters at the ready. A squad of troopers rush to the hole and quickly examine the surroundings. "All clear," the squad leader shouts. "We're ready to move in."
Then, from the ship decends an imposing figure. Most of his form is taken up by his giant, gruesome head. Small arms and legs protrude from his armored body, which is attached to a chair that allows him to fly. He is the recently resurrected Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing - MODOK for short.
"Prepare to enter the facility," MODOK mentally issues the command to his troops. "We must secure the labs and the armory. Too many important projects are underway here - we cannot allow the enemy to retain control."
"Yes sir!" the squad leader replies. The AIM soldiers decend into the underground facility, and begin battling the occupying AIM soldiers. MODOK himself soon enters the fray. Using his mental powers to swing the battle in favor of his forces, MODOK soon secures the area. MODOK and a few troops make their way to the command center, where the troops begin a scan of the research files.
"Bad news, sir," one of the troops says as he looks at a computer terminal. "The information on Project Mindwave has been removed. They must have known we were coming."
"Yes," MODOK replies. "Our foe has been one step ahead of us thus far. But AIM is mine, and he will soon learn the power of MODOK!"
Avengers Mansion, later that day. Steve Rogers finishes packing his few personal belongings. As he prepares to leave, he finds several Avengers gathered to see him off - Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, Thor, Vision, and Hawkeye.
"Finally decided to get your own swingin' bachelor pad again, huh?" Hawkeye teases. "When's the housewarmin' party?"
"Tell you what, Clint," Steve grins, "we'll have a little get together when I'm settled in, okay?"
"No problem, Steve," Hawkeye answers, "just let me know when, and I'll take care of the details!"
"Maybe you should let me handle that," Iron Man says.
"I guess," Hawkeye concedes. "I was plannin' on lettin' you foot the bill anyway!"
"Seriously, Steve," Iron Man says, "if you need a job, just to help you get started..."
"Thanks," Steve replies, "but like I told Nick, I can handle that myself. But I appreciate the offer."
Thor places a hand on Steve's shoulder. "I envy thee, friend Steve - to be embarking on a grand new adventure! Who knows where this path will take thee? May thy journey be glorious!"
"Thanks, Thor, but it's not like I'm really going anywhere - I'm just moving to Chelsea. It's not even like I'm leaving the team."
"Ah, but we never know where even a small decision will lead us," Thor answers. "I sense this will lead to many grand adventures, my friend."
Steve gives Thor a bemused smile. "Thor tends to view life as much more epic than I do," Steve thinks. "But considering the type of life he's lived..."
"Steve, can I talk to you a minute? Alone?" Ms. Marvel asks.
"Sure," Steve says, and the two Avengers walk to an adjacent room.
"So, who watched the game last night?" Hawkeye asks, trying to ease the tension the remaining four feel.
"Steve, I'm sorry things didn't work out between us," Carol says (and don't tell me you haven't been following their romance in Avengers and Ms. Marvel - Matchmaker Matt). "I hope that's not the reason why you're leaving."
"No, Carol. I have no ill feelings over what's happened. We're still teammates, and more importantly, we're still friends. It's just that recent events (like our last two issues - Matt) have made me realize that it's time there was more to me than just Captain America, the Avenger. I think it's time for me to get out there and let Captain America make a bigger difference in everyday matters. And maybe let Steve Rogers live again - get a sense of myself as a person again."
"Good luck," Carol smiles.
"Thanks," Steve replies, and leaves to begin his new life.
A dozen SHIELD agents crawl on their bellys across the sand of the Arizona desert. "Infared reveals that area straight ahead is a hologram," the field leader, Agent Simms, tells his men as he indicates the uninterrupted barrennes of the desert sands. "The coordinates match the location of the explosion we detected earlier. Angelo, radio Colonel Fury and tell him we're going in."
"Yes sir," Angelo replies.
The SHIELD agents race forward from their positions to find a huge crater at the designated coordinates. "Wow," Simms says, "that's a mighty big hole. Butler, what do you read there?"
Butler breaks out some handheld scanning equipment. "There appears to be evidence of some technological equipment below, but judging from these readings, I doubt we'll find anything useful."
"Let's look anyway," Simms says.
A few hours later, the agents return to the helicarrier. "So, did ya learn anything useful?" Fury asks the men in the debriefing room.
"Well, apparently one of the AIM forces was attempting to take over some research facilities in this base," Simms answers. "We can't tell if they were able to get what they were after or not, but apparently they decided that the base was no longer useful, so they destroyed it."
"They knew our spy satellites would pick up the battle and so they wanted to get rid of the evidence is more like it," Fury grunts.
"We did find this, though, sir," Angelo says as he hands a burnt scrap of paper to Fury.
"Can't make out but a few words," Fury says. "Looks like somethin' about a ...Project Mindwave?!"
Next Issue: Cap and Fury must solve the mystery of Project Mindwave! Plus: clues on who's leading the other side of the AIM civil war! And: Steve moves into his new apartment and meets his neighbors! Till then, face front!
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