#6 Written by J Hammond Edited by Bob Gansler

Cast of Characters

Previously

Captain America ('Steve Rogers')  A man who grew up idolizng the original super-patriot. Due to a mistake on his part when he took the Super-Soldier seru, his mind has become affected, making him a racist madman. Bucky (Jack Monroe)  A young boy who idolized the first Captain America. He took the impure Super-Soldier serum and became a new Bucky. His mind has become affected by the serum, making him a racist.

Cap and Bucky were called to New York City to investigate a series of strange murders. FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover approached the African American…

The African American sat in FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s office, his mask in his left hand and his shield strapped to his back. There were several of Hoover’s agents around the room, two at the door, two at the window on the left side of the room, two behind Hoover and two behind the African American himself. It was blatantly obvious that Hoover wanted him for something, but it was just as evident that Hoover did not trust the young black man seated in his office.

Hoover put out his cigarette in the ashtray on his desk and looked over the African American. He was a young black man, probably about twenty-two by his estimation. He was well built, but not overly muscular. Good raw material for what he had in mind.

"Let’s cut to the chase, Jackson Adams, 104 North Main Street, apartment 4B. Why so surprised, son? As soon as Captain America reported you to us, we went to work. The FBI knows everything about you…EVERYTHING. When you wake up, what you eat, the name of the girl you made love to last night. We know all of that…and more, Mr. Adams."

Jackson tried to hide the look of shock that covered his face. How had Hoover’s men been able to find so much dirt on him? He was always so careful when he went out on patrols at night.

"What’s your game, Hoover?"

Hoover leaned back in his chair and smiled like a cat that knew he had the bird right where he wanted him.

"No game, son. You’ve shown great potential. I want to offer you a job, Adams. What do you say?"

Jackson was really bewildered now. Hoover and his agents went through all of this work and effort just to offer him a job?! There was more to it than this, Jackson knew it. Yet, still…he needed the money. Tuition and books cost so much.

"Alright, sir. Whatever it is, I accept. But…I require a bit of an explanation."

Hoover took out his cigarette pack and removed one, lit it and inhaled the tobaccos smoked. He exhaled slowly, watching the cloud of smoke fill the room. He smiled at Adams for a moment and then began to speak.

"You know firsthand that Captain America is a loose cannon…a time-bomb, waiting to go off. We want you to keep an eye on him for us. But…not as the African American. He recognizes you in this guise. Besides that…it looks as if you made your costume from a sweat suit, my boy. I had the boys in the lab make you a new suit."

Hoover tossed a box to Jackson. Curious, Jackson opened it and removed a red, white and blue costume. He looked up at Hoover, bewildered.

"You’ll be Commander Liberty. As you’ll notice, this costume will conceal your entire body. The Captain will not be able to deduce your race and will most likely assume you to be a white man. There’s a new shield as well. Try them on."

Hoover directed Jackson to the private lavatory off the office. Jackson picked up the box and headed for the bathroom. He closed the door and sat down on the toilet for a moment. He could still change his mind. They hadn’t committed to anything yet. But still, his neighborhood needed him. Having the backing of the FBI would help tremendously.

Jackson removed his worn African American costume and began to pull on his new Commander Liberty uniform. Once he was done, he looked himself over in the full-length mirror on the bathroom door. His mask was a dark blue with a red star that extended from his forehead to his chin. His gloves, in the same style as Captain America’s, were the same shade of blue and had a single white star on each. His shirt was also dark blue from the shoulders up and came to a point at his waist. There were large white stars in the center of his chest and back. His sleeves were red and his torso had red and white vertical stripes wrapping around. He had blue trunks and red leggings stuffed into his blue boots, also in the same style as Cap’s. His shield was shaped like his old one, but it had a large white star in the middle and a blue field on top and a red one on the bottom. Jackson smiled beneath his mask and exited the bathroom.

As soon as Hoover saw him, he jumped to his feet and applauded loudly. The Director was obviously quite pleased.

"You look great, my boy! All that remains in the oath! Raise you left hand, put the other on this bible and repeat after me. ‘I solemnly swear to obey the laws of the nation…to uphold the constitution…and to defend liberty, justice and the American way…I shall carry out the directives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation…to the best of my ability…in or out of uniform…in perpetuity…to the best of my ability…so help me God."

Jackson Adams…Commander Liberty…raised his hand and took the oath.

Captain America and Bucky walked through the remains of a mob weapons house. It was clear that there had been a firefight. The walls, ceiling, furniture and other assorted items throughout the house had been riddled with gunshots. The only thing was…all of the bodies that remained on the floor were from the same gang. None were killed by gunshots and they all had the same teeth marks and absence of blood.

"Whoever’s doing this certainly going out of their way to convince us that a vampire is responsible for all of this carnage, Bucky."

Cap kicked a body over, flipping it onto its back. The throat had been ripped to shreds by what looked like claws. The victim’s shirt was stained with blood, most likely his own. Bucky stared down at the corpse.

"These ginnies never knew what hit ‘em, Cap." Bucky proclaimed, trying to avert his eyes from the corpse. "They had their tails handed to ‘em, no doubt about it."

The All-American boy could feel his lunch coming back up. He ran to an open window and began to vomit.

The patient kicked the door to his hospital room clear off its hinges and lumbered out of the room, oblivious to the stares the various hospital employees were giving him. His footfalls made loud metallic echoes as he marched down the hallway.

A crew of security guards and orderlies rushed out, drawn by the commotion his exit had caused. The guards began to fire their revolvers at him, the bullets ricocheting loudly off his robotic body. With barely a thought or even hint of acknowledgement of his foes, the patient killed them all quite effortlessly. He crushed a man’s head in his hand, another he beheaded with a simple backhand. All of this, and he continued walking, no signs at all that he registered his opponent’s presence save for the fact he was butchering them.

After several minutes, the security guards realized they stood no chance against the cyborg and they began to retreat, fearful for their lives. The patient marched on till he reached the reception area of the hospital. All of the staff, orderlies, doctors and nurses alike, lay on the floor, dead in a pool of their own blood. One man alone in the room still lived. He took a long drag off his cigarette and extinguished it on the nearest body and rose from his seat.

"Ah…I see you are awake, my friend. This is good. You may be asking yourself who am I? Please allow me to introduce myself…I am the Red Skull, pride of the Soviet Union. It was I who financed your operation, your…improvements."

The patient stopped at the Skull’s words and studied the crimson-masked Russian.

"Why? Why do you help me?"

"It is quite simple, comrade." The Skull smiled, "I have paid for all of this to help you get revenge on a man we both hate. His defeat will further our cause, the Communist cause, dear Castrano." The Skull removed a pack of cigarettes from his coat, produced one, lit it and exhaled a cloud of smoke, smiling all the while. "We will both get our revenge on Captain America."

Skull and Castrano both laughed a deep, hearty laugh that echoed around the entire building. Were there any alive to hear it, the sound would have sent chills rushing through their bodies.

Captain America and Bucky followed Detective Brown through the warehouse. There were bodies splattered throughout the building, making it quite apparent that there had been a struggle. Gunshells were scattered amidst the debris, bodies were bruised and lacerated, some decapitated. Some of the wreckage burned, filling the room with a cloud of smoke. All of the victims shared one thing…the two puncture wounds on their necks.

"This fellow sure is brutal, Detective" Cap said, stepping over a body that had been gutted by its attacker. Something had caught his eye and he wanted to investigate it firsthand.

All of the windows in the warehouse had been shattered save for one. This had seemed to escape the attention of Detective Brown, but not Captain America! Cap looked out the window. It led to a dark alleyway formed by the warehouse and an adjacent building. He turned and began to walk back towards his partner and the detective.

"It’s obvious whoever is doing this is after criminal organizations. How many are left in this ci…"

Cap turned to the sound of breaking glass.

"It matters not which are left, my old foe. All that you must know is that Baron Blood has targeted YOU to be next!"

Sentences of Liberty

Usually this space would be used for a letters column, but not this issue. There’s two reasons for that: First…I haven’t gotten any and Second…I have something on my mind and I decided to use this for a forum to discuss it.

About four months ago, someone very close to me decided he couldn’t deal with his pain any longer and he hung himself. This was on Christmas Day. I don’t know what sort of things could drive a person to do something like that. Perhaps I’ll never know.

However, I do know the pain such an act causes the people left behind. His son and daughter were, and still are, very good friends of mine. I’ve seen the two of them go from happy, normal children to somber shadows of what they once were. True, the pain will eventually lessen, but it never goes away.

Terry was like a father to me. He was there when my real father never was. For that, I will always love and miss him, regardless of how he chose to end his life.

If you or anyone you know is feeling suicidal, please, PLEASE get help. If not for yourself, then for the ones you leave behind.