Misty Knight returns home to find a
note left by Sam Wilson—Captain America. In it, he reviews his life
to where he became the Falcon and fought alongside Steve Rogers,
Captain America, whom he considers his best and most trusted
friend....
Steve Cap shows up at a dinner between
radio rabble-rouser Harry Hauser and Americops CEO Paul Keane, and
tells Keane that he disapproves of the real estate scam Keane is
running. Seems Keane has been buying up property in distressed areas,
using the Americops to force the residents to move and selling the
land at a profit. Keane then dies, poisoned by Hauser on Cap's
orders. And now Hauser is ready for the next part of Cap's plan.
“Hail Hydra.”
Sam continues in his letter about how
he tried to live up to Cap's reputation, using his new identity to
try to break down some of the divisions in America society but he
failed, feeling everyone was against him and getting knocked down....
In a desolate neighborhood, ruined by
rioting, D-Man joins Rev. Gideon Wilson (Sam's brother) as they plan
to rebuild....
Sam expresses gratitude that he had
friends to carry him though the worst times, but even relationships
can backfire....
The new Falcon, Joaquin Torres, goes to
see the comatose Rage in the hospital and he is so filled with anger
that he flies off with revenge on his mind....
Sam's mind turns to the recent debacle
around Rage's trial and near murder...
...so he sends out over his web account
his resignation as Captain America. He explains hie is giving up, not
because of any errors he made but because he no longer believes in
the nation's ideals that he is supposed to stand for. He ends with a
message to the youth of America to not lose hope.
Elsewhere, Rayshaun, the boy rioter
from the end of issue #19, returns home, removes his Rage makeup and
starts sketching a costume for the Patriot....
As Misty finishes Sam's letter she
rushes to his room to see Sam flying off, his Cap uniform on the
floor and Captain America is gone....