Captain America Steve Rogers summons Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, from the ocean and
shows him the bullet wound in his shoulder, fired by the Winter Soldier, and reveals
the existence of the Outer Circle. Namor reminds him that he (Steve) and Bucky
haven’t changed. Steve is bright and Bucky dark so Bucky went into the shadows where
Steve cannot follow. Namor suggest Steve find some allies “more comfortable in
the dark.”
Steve
broods over Bucky’s shooting him to get at the Revolution (issue #5); he hears
from Roger Aubrey, the former Destroyer, who warns him that there is currently
no A.I.M. technology on the market, suggesting that either A.I.M. or someone
else has it and is planning something big. Steve stops by Bucky’s apartment and
finds it empty except for the red crystal he took from the New Destroyer (issue
#1). On his way home, he realizes someone is following him and once he gets
back to his apartment he attacks…and finds it is Sharon Carter. They kiss and
catch up on events. Sharon mentions news reports of a Nomad but they know it
isn’t Ian. After making love, Steve reveals he still hurts from Bucky’s
betrayal. Sharon suggests they build a conspiracy of their own…
…soon
Captain America and Sharon visit a secret room beneath the New York subways.
There they find the people they have invited: Nick Fury Jr., Dryad, Black Widow,
Hawkeye, plus Roger Aubrey. Cap explains the existence and goals of the Outer
Circle, the connection to his shield, and Bucky’s part as the New Revolution.
He shows them the red crystal, which Fury recognizes as neganite, a powerful
but unstable explosive, which works best in zero gravity. Dryad and Aubrey
connect it to Arnim Zola and Hawkeye reveals the existence of a secret launch
site belonging to Zola. They realize they can set a trap there for the Outer
Circle and A.I.M. The Starpoint called Redacted arrives and concurs. They agree
to meet in two days, on Wednesday…
…suddenly
Cap finds himself in the middle of a field in Kansas—and it is now Friday….