Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The issue starts with a flashback to CAPTAIN AMERICA (1996) issue #4-5, where Rikki Barnes as Captain America’s sidekick Bucky was at the mercy of her evil brother John. Now in this world John Barnes is Rikki’s best friend and we see them at a café, pondering the mystery of classmate Desmond Daniels and how he has brought a handful of students under his power as though they were zombies. The talk switches to John’s family, and Rikki learns that in this world, his father was killed in a terrorist attack, and his mother died in childbirth—along with his baby sister. Rikki chokes up—but the street is rocked by an explosion; as an EMT cares for the injured John, Rikki dons her new Nomad costume and heads outside. The culprit is the anarchist Flag-Smasher, who has bombed a military recruitment center to protest government. Nomad challenges him, holding her own with throwing discs and a hard-light shield. The bad guy brings down a façade on a helpless couple and Nomad rushes to the rescue, while Flag-Smasher flies off on jet-boots—straight into Falcon’s fist. Falcon is startled to see someone in the Nomad outfit and Rikki ends up telling him her entire story. She confesses that she feels that she is being manipulated into taking on the Nomad identity—but Falcon counters that perhaps someone thought she was worthy of following in Steve Rogers’ footsteps….
In school, social studies class is interrupted by the report that Desmond Daniels is making a speech; the classroom is emptied out as the students rush to hear him. This time, after another all to get involved, a larger number of teens sign on to his campaign. Doctor Powers scolds him for disrupting class and Desmond apologizes and sends everyone back to their rooms. Rikki wonders what is going on….
Later we see Desmond’s original five followers in robes meeting with a hooded figure, who dispatches them to ensure victory with their next actions. The leader repairs to his lair, a high-tech console room guarded by Mad Dog, where he ponders the threat of Nomad to the schemes of the Secret Empire. Knowing who Nomad really is, he knows how to break her….
Riki meets with the battered and bandaged John to try to explain what’s going on in her confused mind. He tries to kiss her and she reacts violently. She tries to explain that he’s like a brother to her and he takes it the wrong way, little realizing how literally she meant it. He avoids her for days, leaving her lonely and miserable. To clear her head she goes out at night as Nomad. Nearby at the park, the five members of the Desmond cult are planning a more extreme statement, one that Desmond can’t be associated with because he needs to maintain an image. Another student approaches and wants to hear their plans because it might be right up his alley—John….