Sam Wilson, current Captain America, is still en route from
Phoenix to New York as he continues to review his recent history for his
annoying seatmates….
Six months ago, a hacker known only as The Whisperer leaked
SHIELD documents revealing the existence of a top secret program called Kobik,
using fragments of the Cosmic Cube to alter reality for national security
purposes. SHIELD Director Maria Hill issued a statement defending Kobik,
instead determining to identify The Whisperer. Captain America Sam Wilson
immediately denounced the project, demanding it be shut down. Former Cap Steve Rogers
publicly defended Sam’s right to define his mission as he sees fit. Steve
also declined to criticize Sam’s positions other than to go on record as also
opposing Kobik…. Afterward, Sam and Steve split, with Steve believing his
country would always do the right thing and Sam merely hoping. SHIELD tracked
down The Whisperer and Cap helped him get away, which the informant repaid with
secret information on Hydra’s doings (leading to the defeat of that group and
Sam’s break with SHIELD seen in issue #1)….
Now, Steve Rogers and a SHIELD team are asking Sam Cap to
stand down, while they arrest the Sons of the Serpent terrorists. The Serpents
fight back with a rocket launcher and Old Cap and New Cap stand together
against the baddies. A serpent takes one of the immigrants hostage, then uses a
short-range teleporter to get away. Steve criticizes Sam Cap for interfering
with an ongoing investigation; Cap takes off to follow up, sending a flock of
birds to mess on the SHIELD Agents….
Using his avian network, Cap trails the escaped Serpent to a
nearby diner—where he finds him palling around with his “hostage.” Cap
confronts them over the teleporter and the Armadillo enters, reveals that he
gave the teleporter to the terrorists, and immediately begins bashing Cap
around, accusing Cap of lying to him when he said he was going to help find a cure
for the misshapen monster. (Sam informs us that he tried but all the scientists
he talked to said a cure was impossible). Redwing shrieks, stunning Armadillo
so Cap can push him in front of a moving train (he doesn’t get hurt much). Cap
questions the phony hostage and learns that he and his cronies were hired to
procure males for scientific research in New York—and Sam recalls Misty Knight
and her anger that he had dragged her out to New Mexico when the real mystery
was in New York….
Now on the plane, Sam gets a message from The Whisperer
revealing that the bad guy behind the kidnappings is Dr Karl Malus. After
several people stop by to offer support for Sam, he puts his gear together,
activates the teleporter and he and Redwing fly away, leaving the jet behind….