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April Year 2 |
On the docks in New York, ships unload their cargo from all around the world. Among these ships is the LeFleur, a vessel from France. As the dockworkers unload the crates from the ships, many think of how dull and dreary their job is. Why couldn't they have finished school and found better work than this?
Suddenly, thoughts of what might have been are erased as one of the crates explodes! The workers all drop to the ground, covering their heads in an attempt to prevent flying debris from injuring them. Slowly, the bravest of these men look up to see a costumed figure striding from the remains of the crate, where he had apparently stowed away.
"Who is this nutball?" one worker asks.
"Hey, I remember him," one replies. "He almost killed a bunch of us fellas that was working at the old Stark International docks on Long Island a few years back (way back in Iron Man #154 - Manual labor Matt). His name's... the Unicorn!"
As the Unicorn strides off, he mumbles, "No one will keep us apart, Other. I will find you!"
At Steve Rogers' new Chelsea apartment, the hero of this story sits back in his chair. "Well, that was certainly an interesting couple of days. Now that I've done Nick the favor I owe him, maybe I can start putting a life together for myself. First order of business is to find a job." With that, Steve begins looking through the classified sections of his newspaper. "Hmm. Commercial artist needed for new ad campaign. I haven't drawn professionally in quite a while, but it has always been something I've loved. I think I'll give them a call." Steve picks up the phone, and within a few minutes has arranged for a job interview. "Well, my appointment is for tomorrow. Might as well take the rest of today to meet a few more of my neighbors!"
Steve walks into the hall as Jeff Warren and a middle aged woman are coming up the stairs to Steve's floor.
"...the exact pitch I wanted, but I guess I was just to eager, and so I struck out," the dejected Jeff is telling the woman.
"Don't get so down, Jeff, there'll be other softball games," the woman consoles.
"Hi Jeff," greets Steve.
"Hi Steve," Jeff answers with a smile. He then turns to the woman with him. "This is the new guy I was telling you about. Anita Rodriguez, meet Steve Rogers. Steve, this is Anita Rodriguez. She lives down the hall from us."
"Nice to meet you," Steve says.
"So," Anita says as she eyes Steve carefully, "what's a nice looking young man like you doing in a dump like this?" She then looks at Steve with an incredibly flirtatious grin. Jeff can't help but roll his eyes.
"Well, it's not so bad here," Steve replies. "I kind of like it, myself."
"Hmm. I'm glad to hear that," Anita continues to grin. "Why don't we go to my apartment, and let you get better acquainted?" Without waiting for an answer she begins to strut towards her apartment door. Steve glances at Jeff, who's desperately trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.
Steve finds him struggling to suppress a laugh.
As Steve and Jeff follow Anita down the corridor, another tenant passes by on his way out. He is a young man, in his mid twenties. He has dark hair cut close and wears a rumpled t-shirt and jeans. "Hey Bill!" Jeff says as the young man approaches. "This is our new neighbor, Steve. Care to join us at Anita's?"
"No thanks," Bill mumbles. "Gotta be somewhere." With barely a glance at Steve and Jeff, Bill continues on his way.
"He's a friendly sort," Steve says as he watches Bill walk down the stairs.
"He wasn't always like that," Jeff apologizes. "I don't know what's gotten into him in the last few weeks... he won't open up about it."
From down the hall, Anita pops her head out of her doorway. "Don't keep a lady waiting, gentlemen!" she says slyly.
"She's taking a real shine to you, Steve," Jeff says. "You've got my sympathies," he adds with a wink as they proceed to Anita's apartment.
The SHIELD Helicarrier. Sharon Carter walks into Nick Fury's office, a scowl on her face. "All right, Fury. Enough stalling. I want some answers. Why was I cut loose behind enemy lines? Why did you tell Steve and everyone else I was dead?"
"Well, you know yer mission was top secret, an' we couldn't risk Cap comin' after ya. The video that newslady showed Cap of you gettin' burned (back in Cap 237 - Matt) - we didn't fake that. Not entirely anyway. We had sent a LMD in to infiltrate the National Force to keep him from huntin' ya - and when it was destroyed, well - we figgered it'd be better if most people thought you were dead until the mission was over. And then things went sour, and we thought you really were dead fer awhile."
"What? The world's greatest spy organization can't keep track of whether its agents are still breathing?" Sharon says, the outrage clear in her voice.
"Hey, we ain't omnipotent, ya know," Fury answers. "And besides, there was special circumstances involved. When I heard you were still alive after I came back ta SHIELD, I launched a full investigation. We've figgered out most of what happened." Fury flips a computer disk over to Sharon. "What we've got so far is on that disk. I'd been plannin' to give it to ya as soon as I found ya - I figgered you'd wanna track down some stuff yerself. But the SHIELD investigation's gonna continue."
"No, Fury. Call off the SHIELD investigation - I'll dig up the truth myself. I still don't trust you guys - and I want you to steer clear of me until I find out exactly what happened. Is that clear?"
"Crystal."
Sharon glares at Fury one last time, and stalks out of the room.
"And good luck kid," Fury whispers under his breath as she leaves.
"Must find the Other," the Unicorn mumbles as stumbles down an alley. "I can't go on without him - where could he be? I must find Iron Man- he must know! But first - I must rest...." The Unicorn slumps down and begins a fitful sleep.
"...it was absolutely the most unbelievable time in my life - this country's just been incredibly boring since then!" Anita says as she finishes her story.
Steve wipes his mouth as he finishes his meal, and looks to see Jeff absently nodding his head.
"You never get tired of those Studio 54 stories, do you?" Jeff asks.
"Well, if you had been a regular there like me, you'd understand," Anita answers in a mock-superior tone.
"You would have had to drag me into that place kicking and screaming," Jeff says.
"What about you, Steve?" Anita asks as she leans across the table. "Did you ever go to Studio 54?"
"No, I'm afraid not," Steve says.
"Oh, well it was 20 years ago - I suppose you were just a bit too young then?"
"Actually," Steve thinks, "twenty years ago I was still frozen in a block of ice...." He answers, "Well, not really. But I'm just a little too old fashioned for that type of partying."
"Oh, you're not a fuddy-duddy like Jeff here, are you?" Anita says, a bit concerned. "I'd expect that from a right wing propagandist like him -"
"Consevative editorialist," Jeff corrects.
"Whatever," Anita dismisses him. "I'd expect that from someone like him, but you're... what do you do anyway?"
"I'm a commercial artist," Steve answers.
"Hmm. An artist," Anita considers. "Ever do any work for your own enjoyment? Paintings or sketches? I'd be glad to model for you if you need someone - I'm even willing to pose nude," she says with a wink.
Steve can't help but blush and Jeff can't help but laugh.
Later, Steve returns to his apartment. "Well, that was an interesting meal," he thinks. "But I can't forget the reason I moved out here on my own again. It's time Captain America started making more of a difference on the streets again."
Solemnly, Steve dons his Captain America uniform, and then leaps out his skylight and into the night. Cap leaps from rooftop to rooftop, his eyes scanning the streets below, looking for signs of trouble. Nothing catches his eye as he continues across the city. He stops on a rooftop and looks out at the city before him. "I can't get over how peaceful the city is tonight. And it certainly looks beautiful. It's not that late yet - maybe there's time to change and catch a movie or something. Eh?" Cap cocks his head as he hears a rustling sound above him. He looks up to see - "Falcon!"
The Falcon glides down to stand next to Cap. "Hi Cap. What are you doing out tonight?"
"Out on patrol actually. I'm trying to get a little more involved on a street level these days. You know, I've always kind of envied you - out there making a difference in people's lives on a day to day basis."
"Geez, Cap, you can't mean that!" Falcon replies. "You make a difference in people's lives just by breathing! You're an inspiration to this whole country - and there's no telling how many times you and the Avengers have saved this nation - heck, this world!"
"I realize that, Sam," Cap says as he gazes out over the city reflectively. "Recently I saw kids shooting each other at school (back in 464-465 - Matt) and since I've been trying to find a way to help on a more personal level.I know how important my activities with the Avengers are and I'd never give that up. But there's the side of me that's an artist - the side that likes to see the fruits of my labors. And sometimes when you foil the latest scheme of HYDRA or Baron Zemo you don't feel like you've accomplished as much as when you keep an old lady from being mugged, or when you stop some kids from wrecking their lives by getting on drugs... Am I making any sense?"
"I know exactly what you mean," Falcon answers. "It was an honor for me to be an Avenger, but I'm not cut out for that. I can do more good on a one-on-one basis. You know as well as I do that you need to operate on that big scale. I think you just need a chance to regain your perspective - is that it?"
"I think you hit the nail right on the head, Sam," Cap says. "I've spent so long being Captain America the symbol I've neglected Steve Rogers the man. And the man needs to feel that the symbol is accomplishing its purpose."
"Tell you what Steve, come visit me tomorrow afternoon. I'll let you get your hands dirty, help you get back your perspective. What do you say?"
"Thanks, Sam. You're a good friend."
"My pleasure, Steve. Anything for you."
The two men shake hands and part into the night.
Next Issue: Steve goes for a job interview, Cap and Falcon take to the streets together, and the Unicorn wreaks havoc! See you then!