Captain America 2099UG - The Deadpool #1

The mountains of New England engulf the golden valley, hiding it from the prying eyes of the outside world, keeping it hidden as a clam hides its oyster. There was indeed a prize hidden within these mountains, a prize that could grant someone, lucky enough to obtain it, a small fortune at least. Within these mountains a sole cabin protruded from the trees and cliff face. The cabin extended from beneath the ground, possessing two floors to house those lucky enough to find themselves within this lush paradise. Nicholas Page can only sit back and take it in. His weary eyes have seen much of the world in this day and age, but he only wishes that better circumstances had brought him here. As the year of 2099 slowly draws near its end and 2100 quickly approaches, Page only wishes that he could put the this year behind him as well. However, some things simply do not disappear with the click of an update button on a calendar.

The breeze here is pleasant and as Nicholas looks upon the mountains surrounding him he can only think of one thing. It is a simple lyric really, but one that he has never forgotten.

"Purple mountain majesties," he whispers into the mild air.

It was a song from long ago that his uncle had taught him, and until recently Nicholas had thought he knew what it meant. He had thought that he knew what America was about. He had seen many things in his travels, but it wasn't until recently that he had faced the shame of society's destruction and perversion. This cabin, this valley, had always been a haven for Nicholas when he needed to escape and clear his head, however he appreciated it much more now than he ever had before. Today he sits upon the front porch connected to one of his many safehouses, leaning back in a wooden chair reflecting back upon the last few weeks. The New England landscape is one of the few areas where pristine countryside exists, and he can almost convince himself that mutants, DOME, and the rest of the world are not out there waiting for him.

He watches his daughter play in the yard and smiles. They were fortunate to experience good weather at this time in the year. With the ever shifting weather patterns, New England had turned into a "hit and miss" climate system. Sometimes in late December and early January it snowed; sometimes it didn't. As he continued to watch Maria play in the yard before him, he knew that it was the type of break that they had both been looking for. He almost lost her a few weeks ago. While the rest of the world was glued to their holo-vids, watching the Fall of Alchemax news coverage, Nicholas was discovering that his whole life was a lie. He had discovered that he was a mutant.

[See the Legacy Story in 2099 UG Unlimited # 1-4]

Raised in an anti-mutant household by his widowed uncle, Nicholas had never accepted mutants as equals. He was always taught that they were mistakes that had to be corrected through natural selection -- survival of the fittest. That was why the human race had to hunt them down like the poor misguided animals they were, so that humans could take their place at the top of the world once again. Nicholas had always accepted this, and gladly accepted DOME's generous offer to expand his inherited abilities. He operated as a DOME agent and took up the codename of Captain America to cleanse the mantle disgraced by the imposter who claimed to be Steve Rogers. It was when Austin, the leader of the radical group called the Raiders, had precipitated his self-doubt that he sought out the truth. It was then that he learned he was indeed a mutant. When he had discovered that his benefactors intended to groom and use his daughter, also a probable mutant, he had betrayed DOME, eluding them ever since. Through it all Nicholas had managed to keep his daughter blissfully unaware of the very real danger they face every day.

While Nicholas was lost in his thoughts, his daughter runs up to him with a mass of flora in her hands. "I picked these for you, Daddy!"

Nicholas eyes the mass of plants and smiles. He eagerly takes the gift thrust upon him, despite the rash he knows will likely follow. He has heard stories of dandelions from the past, tales that said they weren't poisonous. Things change, he thought grimly. "Thank you, Sweetie."

"Come play with me Daddy."

He grins. "Of course. Just let me..."

He is interrupted by the sounds of his holo-phone from inside the cabin -- a line which is supposed to be secure! The peace he had found was gone in an instant. "Daddy's gotta get the phone, Sweetheart. It'll only take a minute."

Maria watched her father weakly lift himself from the old rocking chair and enter the cabin. Despite her youth and inexperience she knew that something was wrong, and the weariness that takes its toll on her father each day makes her cry -- again.

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(Moments Later -- Inside)

Page sits down and prepares to activate the holo-phone. He takes a deep breath and slowly thumbs the receiver button. Finally, he speaks.

"Nicholas Page here."

The screen brightens and shows a very familiar figure on the other side. It is not until he exhales that Nicholas realizes he was holding his breath. He speaks in a relieved tone. "Doctor! What's wrong? Are you on a secured line?"

Dr. Jameson is slow to respond and Page begins to suspect something is wrong. His friend answers him in quiet tones.

"Nicholas," he whispers. "The trace blocker I have on this line will last only a few seconds, so listen carefully. Something suspicious has been going on here at DOME. I have heard that they pulled all field operatives looking for you. They are also beginning to act strangely in my presence. They talk in hushed tones, or stop talking altogether when I enter a room. I can see the writing on the wall."

Nicholas frowns. He has played this game for too long to disregard the subtle signs that Dr. Jameson describes. He furrows his brow. "How long do you think it will be?"

"I think I have two days... three at the most."

"I want you to act as if nothing has changed, Doc. I'll be there in the morning."

"No, Nicholas! They want you to come running back. I knew the risks of being a mutant in an anti-mutant organization a long time ago when I took my position. I've looked after myself for many years now, and I'm not about to go running for help now. You have more important things to take care of. Promise me you will keep Maria safe and forget me. Promise me, Nick! Maria needs a father much more than she needs me. Besides, I don't think I'm in that much danger. They won't do anything to me, I've been much too loyal. Promise me..."

He knows that the doctor is lying, however Nicholas forces a smile. "You can count on me, Doc. When you bring Maria into the thick of things, I can hardly argue, can I?"

"Nope."

"Make me a promise, Doc. At the first sign of real danger, you get in touch with me. And please, be careful."

"I promise. And Nick...you've done a fantastic job of staying out of trouble these past few weeks, please don't screw it up! Be careful...good-bye."

As the image of Dr. Jameson fades into obscurity Nicholas only sits there, staring at the holo-phone upon which he had just promised to let his closest friend die. He sits there for an unknown amount of time, staring into the machine that had delivered Jameson's sentence. Suddenly, with one mighty sweep, Nicholas's powerful fist slams into the machine, smashing it into countless pieces, his admantium bones denting the hard oak table as well. He stands, looking out of a nearby window into the clear blue sky. His brow wrinkles and the look in his eye captures the ferocity that the Nazi's saw when Steve Rogers first declared war on tyranny. He slowly walks over to the door, sticking his head out to call Maria.

"Maria!"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Get your things together."

"Where are we going this time?" she says sadly.

"On a little trip. Now, go on."

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(Washington, D.C. -- Department of Mutant Ethnics Headquarters)

SHOCK HIM!!!!!!!

Timothy Waters is not a happy man. He sits in a dark office, the only light coming from a single lamp on his desk top. Before him a mass of files, notes, and info pads litter his work station. They all pertain to a single man... his own homemade shockin' Captain America -- Nicholas Page. Every medical report, every mission file, every rumor ever collected on the man, and still nothing! Timothy Waters looks at the files for perhaps the twentieth time in the last two months and begins to fear there is no way to defeat the man he helped create.

And that is the real stick isn't it? Waters realizes that this is a personal debt. A matter of honor among thieves. You see, Timothy Waters, the head of DOME, has spent years being judge and jury over tens of thousands of lives. He could take life upon a whim, and very rarely... like in the case of Nicholas Page, he can give life. He poured out his heart and finances to make Nicholas bigger, stronger, and faster! He had even given him some leeway when Page wanted to take up the blasted name of Captain America, becoming his most valuable agent and effectively, his most valuable executioner. He had taken in the boy at the request of Page's uncle, the kid's own flesh and blood, and had come to love him as his own son . . . well, as much as one could love a mutant, he thought angrily.

Due to the vast financial drain, and the under qualification of his field agents, Timothy had withdrawn all his bounty hunters. How could he possibly hope for success when Page had already broken into headquarters, killing one of his prized agents, and seriously injuring two others. It had taken weeks for them to practically rebuild Soldier of Fortune, the leader of the Unsung. Not only that but with the aid of Page, the Raiders had erased the Mutant Registry and somehow persuaded Unsung member Swansong to join them. He now sits here looking over the files in hopes of finding anything to give him the whereabouts of his newest and most fearsome foe. It was not the fault of his agents of course that they were outclassed. Timothy had spared no expense where Nicholas Page was involved. But it did make for a frustrating correction process.

He sighs, then rubs his eyes. When he opens them again he lets his eyes settle on a specific file. This one is sketchy but documents all the known information concerning one of Nicholas's three extended leaves of absence.

"I would give half my kingdom to peg that son of a glitch," he bellows.

Then his eye catches a sub-file on the pad he holds. "DEADPOOL," it reads.

"Deadpool," he repeats, letting the file name roll off his tongue. Then, finally, he smiles. "Perhaps I could give a bit less of my kingdom for his hide. Sorry, Nicholas, my boy, but the game is about over."

And the office rings with his laughter.