|
|
|
|
 |
|
  |
|
|
|
|
Captain America ('Steve Rogers')
Hoover, J. Edgar | After the reforming of the Avengers, J. Edgar
Hoover ordered the thawing out of the 1950's Captain America and Bucky.
The scientific expertise of Dr. Will Sinkowitz (aka the Cold Warrior)
brought them out of cold storage and he claimed that the patriotic duo
were cured of their mania.
Hoover was dubious about the team's agenda. He got the pair into the team, with instructions to keep their eyes open. Hoover has been trying to keep Cap and Bucky on a very short leash. However, Cap and Bucky have not been too receptive and they were very angry with Hoover's suggestion for them to adopt new identities as "Ultra-Nationalist and Jacky." This tale takes place concurrent with Avengers 1958 #8 |
Defending Our Honor
Part One of Three
The time - 1958
J. Edgar Hoover sat behind his desk, filing through the stack of folders skewered about the surface of the desk. The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation finally came to the one he wanted. In bright, bold red letters it was marked “TOP SECRET”. He picked the folder up and opened it, flipping through the pages that made up its contents. Once he was satisfied that it contained everything he needed he closed it and restacked the other folders in an organized manner at the far corner of the desk. He then hit the talk button on his intercom.
“OK, Mary, send him on in.”
A few short minutes later the door to Hoover’s office slowly opened. In strode the Sentinel of Liberty, the red, white and blue super-soldier, Captain America. Hoover rose from his seat and shook his visitor’s hand. He then reseated himself and motioned for Cap to do the same.
“Alright, Captain. I suppose we should just get down to business here. Are you familiar with the situation in San Cubano?”
Cap rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking. “I believe Bucky and I saw something on the morning news about it earlier today.”
Hoover opened the folder and took a photograph out. He handed it to Cap. “This is Felipe Castrano. He’s headed up a Communist take over of the government in San Cubano.”
Cap studied the photograph for a moment.
“So you want me to do what, exactly?”
Hoover sighed. How could this man be so smug when he, the director of the FBI, clearly held all the cards? All it would take would be one word by him and Captain American would be in the icebox again, lickitty split. “What I want you to do, Captain, is to take down the Communist regime and return San Cubano’s former, Democratic rulers to their posts. Communist influence so close to our shores simply can't be tolerated. To do so would invite them to spread to other Latin American nations and possibly here, eventually, and we can't have that. I can’t trust those blasted Avengers on this, Captain. You’re the only man for this job, the only one I can trust to do it my way.”
Cap set the photograph back on Hoover’s desk. “Why should I help the filthy wetbacks get their government back? We should put an American in charge.”
Hoover slammed the desk with his fist. “You will do as I say, Captain! You are to represent the American ideals, in this country and abroad. I don’t care if you agree with it, but that’s the job. Either you do as I say or you go back to living your life as a human Popsicle. It’s your choice, “CAPTAIN.”
Cap glared at Hoover for several moments, the anger apparent in his eyes. He knew he couldn’t beat the director of the FBI up, no matter how much he’d like to. Still…he couldn’t and wouldn’t allow a jerk like Hoover to push him around, no way in hell. Cap rose from his seat.
“I’m Captain America,” he said, jabbing his finger into Hoover’s chest to punctuate his words. “There’s nothing you can do to change that. If you think you’re going to put me on ice again, you’re sadly mistaken. You try to do it again and you’ll meet RESISTANCE. Have I made myself clear?”
Hoover looked at Cap, the fear evident in his eyes. It was quite obvious to him that Sinkowitz’s cure hadn’t worked. Slowly, he nodded his head in answer to Cap’s question. Cap smiled and sat down.
“Alright, Mr. Director…when do I leave?”
Captain America adjusted the straps to his parachute. Once he was confident they were secured properly, he lowered his goggles to his face. Over his red, white and blue uniform he wore a standard military issue uniform. He had green camouflage pants and a jacket, a helmet and over his shield was a green tarp. As soon as he touched down he planned to ditch the army suit. He was Captain America, not GI Joe, damn it. One of the soldiers piloting the plane came back and sat down next to Cap.
“Say Cap,” he said, yelling to be heard over the plane’s engine. “ Why didn’t they let you bring Bucky along on this mission?”
Cap turned and studied the young soldier seated next to him. He was about twenty-five or so, blonde hair, blue eyes. ‘A real, pure American’ Cap thought.
“Bucky is a little too young and inexperienced for something like this, soldier. Besides, we need stealth here. Can’t have a little guy yapping his gums the whole time, can we?”
The soldier laughed a bit. He scratched his head as he laughed.
“No, I suppose not. Well, Captain, it looks like we’re getting close to your drop off point. Better get ready.”
Cap looked out the plane’s open cargo door. Below him he saw a tropical jungle. Off in the distance he could see what could only be the military base Castrano was situated out of. At the far end of the base, he noticed a series of cylinders.
“Alright, Cap. We’re here. Good luck and God Speed!”
Cap checked his parachute once more, and satisfied with its securness, he jumped. He breathed deeply as he descended. It felt refreshing to have the cool air rushing past his face. He noticed a small clearing below him and directed himself towards it.
Cap unlatched his parachute straps and braced himself for the drop. His parachute had become entangled in a tree. Though he tried to steer himself towards the clearing, he had missed it by a good ten to twenty yards.
He hit the ground and rolled. It had been at least a fifteen-foot drop. He quickly began to remove the military issued uniform. He had just finished when he heard a twig snapping in the brush behind him. He turned to find eight soldiers staring at him, rifles trained on him.
“You are obviously American,” one of them spit venomously. “Surrender now or we will shoot you where you stand.”
Cap laughed at their threats. It was a full, hearty laugh. His laugh conveyed his contempt for the Hispanic soldiers.
“Do you honestly believe I’m afraid of a bunch of slimy wetbacks? I’m Captain America!”
Cap charged into the soldiers. Because they had just emerged from the jungle, they were still huddled closely together, and thus reluctant to shoot at their star-spangled opponent out of fear of hitting one of their comrades. Cap took advantage of their reluctance. He took out two of the soldiers early on when he charged. He flung himself with all of super-soldier strength into them, his shield up in front of him. The soldiers tried to scramble out of the way and Cap took full advantage of their retreat. He eliminated another soldier with a roundhouse kick to the back of the head and another by swinging his shield arm out and he spun with the kick. He dove at another soldier, tackling him to the ground and sent him into unconsciousness with a series of quick punches to the head.
He looked up to see the remaining soldiers regrouping, training their guns on him. He raised his shield just in time to deflect their shots. He got into a crouching position and began to work his way towards them. Once he felt he was in range, he launched himself at the nearest soldier, crashing into him. As they went down, Cap extended his leg with a powerful kick, knocking another soldier’s legs out from under him. Cap threw his shield at the remaining soldier. It connected with his gun hand, shattering bones in his forearm. The soldier dropped his gun and clutched at his arm, howling in pain. Cap caught the shield on the rebound as he dispatched two soldiers just beginning to get up, one with a kick to the esophagus, the other with a hard elbow to the temple, each attack being administered simultaneously.
Cap put his shield back into place on his back and surveyed his handi-work. The soldiers all lay in battered piles on the ground, bruised and bleeding. Cap felt great joy at the sight.
“Hahahahaha! Another victory for Captain America!” he bellowed. “You spics never stood a chance against me!”
Cap turned and began to run into the jungle towards the base had he had spied from the plane. After running for a long while, twenty minutes by his own estimation, he spotted smoke plumes in the air up ahead. He put his shield onto his forearm and slowed his run to a brisk jog until he came to a small clearing. To his own amazement, he had stumbled upon a small village that filled the clearing.
“Oh no,” Captain America thought to himself, “ These spics will hate me on sight!”
Knowing he had no other choice, Cap walked into the village.
“Hello? Do any of you speak English?”
Most of the people just stared at him for a moment or two, then returned to whatever tasks had been occupying them before his entrance. Cap was about to give up when a small hand tugged at his pant leg.
“Senor? Are you here to overthrow Senor Castrano?”
Cap looked down to see a child, about six or seven years old. He wore a dirty, white t-shirt and ripped brown shorts. His hair was unkempt and there was dirt caked allover his body in patches. ‘It’s obvious these people use their water for other things rather than for bathing’ Cap thought.
Cap knelt before the boy, trying not to show his discomfort at the stench his unwashed body gave off.
“Actually, yes, son. I am.”
The boy grabbed Cap’s hand and began to lead him to a building.
“Then you need to speak to Father Estevez!”
A Word of Note
I know this is not the Captain America most of you
are familiar with. The man who would become Captain America in the 1950s grew up
idolizing the original Captain America, and, through research of his own, he
discovered the super-soldier serum in a Nazi scientist’s notes. When a new Red
Skull appeared, he took the serum to become a new Captain America.
Unfortunately, he did not have the advantage of the stabilizing vita-rays that
the first Captain had and the serum began to affect his mind.
My first encounter with this character was Captain America Annual #6. This story showed him to be a racist, arrogant madman. I’ve tried to accurately portray his character in my story. The idea of a man who is supposed to represent the ideals of America…liberty, equality and the like… who obviously does not believe in these ideals himself intrigues me to no end.
I apologize if this story has offended anyone, but that is the type of man this Captain America is.
Next Issue: What will Cap find when he meets Father Estevez? What’s in the silos at the base? Who is Felipe Castrano? Find out…Next issue!
Comments, criticisms, and concerns for this issue of JOURNEY INTO UNKNOWN WORDS accepted at mailto:%20captainamerica3@mailcity.com
The Journey Into Unknown Worlds web page is at http://www.cae.wisc.edu/~gansler/journey/journey.htm
#64
of
the 1950's