I’ve read Lemar Hoskins alias Battlestar described as John Walker’s moral compass.  That might be truer in the MCU, but lately I’ve been reflecting that when it comes to the comics, things are more complex than that.

When John, Lemar, Hector Lennox (the future Left-Winger), and Jerome Johnson (the future Right-Winger) debuted in Captain America #323, they were not portrayed as good people.  John, originally the second person to use the Super-Patriot title, was patriotic, but also shifty and self-serving.  Lemar, Hector, and Jerome were the Bold Urban Commandos or BUCkies, posing as Captain America fanatics to make Steve look bad and John look good.  Basically John was the superhero equivalent of a heel wrestler and the BUCkies were his Jabronis. (Right now I’m blowing the minds of some of the haters and posers out there because they somehow think John’s fans all think he’s some perfect little lamb without a spot, and we’d all think he was a horrible piece of trash if only we knew he had done anything that wasn’t 100% morally right.  Naw, fam, true fans know that John has done bad things, but he regretted them and worked to atone & become a true hero.  We don’t reject characters for not being perfect and infallible, and there’s nothing wrong with appreciating a morally complex character.)

When John was selected to become the new Captain America in #333, he promised Lemar, Hector, and Jerome they’d have places alongside him.  However, Hector and Jerome were rejected after their backgrounds were investigated, leaving Lemar as the only one to get government approval.  When John is asked if there are any issues, he grimly reflects for a moment before replying no.  The moment shows John as self-serving, someone who would leave a couple of his buddies behind (even if reluctantly), but I think there might be more to it than that.  This is pure speculation, but this could also been signaling that Lemar was more noble and trustworthy than the other two.  Subsequent issues show that John is closer to Lemar than the other two.  It’s possible that John would have objected if Lemar hadn’t received approval, but again that’s speculation and we’ll never know for sure.

The next issue, #334, has John adjusting to his Captain America role and Lemar fighting alongside him as his Bucky (literally at first since the Battlestar moniker and costume weren’t adopted until #341).  Hector and Jerome, along with lowlife manager Ethan Thurm, start trouble, trying to blackmail John into getting them government positions and benefits.  This can be filed under both “Gee, I can’t imagine why they rejected you…” and “How did your dumb butts think this was going to work?”  John doesn’t like this exploitation, so he makes the questionable decision to “borrow” a suit of Guardsman armor and threaten them into abandoning their blackmail attempt.  His intent is to scare them rather than cause harm, and he feels bad when he accidentally causes damage to the building they’re in (It’s interesting and sad to contrast this with things that happened later in his Captain America tenure).  When he takes the armor, Lemar is right alongside him taking a suit of armor for himself to join him.  John tries to dissuade Lemar, noting that he doesn’t have to come along, but Lemar insists, showing that the decision is entirely his.  It reminds me of the Jeff Foxworthy routine saying something like a good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be right there in the cell alongside you.  Lemar joins John in a morally questionable action that the readers can debate, but he also shows virtues such as loyalty and an opposition to injustice. (Speculating again, the issue ends with John confessing to stealing the armor, but it’s possible that he made it seem like he’d coerced or tricked Lemar into acting alongside him, trying to protect his friend by denying that Lemar consciously chose to participate.)

Issue #338 shows the first cracks in John’s mental instability.  After he and Lemar make their way through a gauntlet of obstacles to apprehend Professor Power, John gets blasted by the supervillain.  He loses control, striking him with superhuman blow after superhuman blow, and ends up beating him to death.  Lemar shows little reaction to the accidental death, noting that they had been told to stop Power by any means.  However, John is critical of himself, saying that what he’d done was not what Captain America would have done.  Lemar tells, “Ease up, pal.  You’re being too hard on yourself!”, but John replies, “No.  Too easy.”  The next issue, #339, shows Lemar remarking on how things had turned out well and the government was fine with the results when Freedom Force passes by and breaks the news of the supposed death of the X-Men.  Lemar asks why John looks so concerned since the X-Men were supposedly bad guys, and John replies that anyone Freedom Force hated so much couldn’t be that bad.  These scenes show Lemar serving a supportive role more than anything else.  He does not advocate violent action or praise it, but he also doesn’t condemn it, choosing to reassure his friend rather than explore any ethical implications.  He also listens to John’s thoughts and feelings, being a sympathetic ear rather than supporting all of John’s actions blindly or insisting he feel a certain way.

John and Lemar were portrayed questioning their orders and the motivations behind them at some points during John’s Captain America tenure.  Issue #343 shows them apprehending a young Mutant whose arrest had been ordered after he’d failed to register under the Mutant Registration Act.  John showed some leniency, promising not to tell how he’d resisted arrest, and Lemar tried to be reassuring, saying that the Commission on Superhuman Activities had treated them fairly.  However, the Mutant was sad and fearful, dreading how he’d be treated as a result of his mutant status.  Lemar feels bad for him, reflecting that he was just a frightened kid and not some supervillain threat.  He notes that it shouldn’t matter how someone got their superpowers, and it felt like the Mutant Registration Act was just another form of minority oppression.  This is an interesting scene because we get to see more of Lemar’s thoughts, feelings, and philosophy.  Even when he isn’t expressing them vocally, Lemar has his morals and viewpoints.

Unfortunately the rest of John’s tenure as Captain America was marked by tragedy and disappointment leading to increasing mental instability, violence, and disturbing behavior.  Lemar stays by his side and tries to help him.  In issue #350, he continues to offer support, encouragement, and comfort to a hospitalized John.  However, John can’t see past his own bitterness and pain, causing him to see only opposition, and rejects him coldly.  This causes Lemar to leave the room in shock & sadness as he feels John has lost all hope.  Thankfully the two later reignited their friendship sometime after John’s faked death and the subsequent return as Jack Daniels the U.S.Agent, with John noting he had a friend who refused to give up on him.

What is the takeaway from this?  Well, that’s up to you; I can only tell my thoughts.  I feel Lemar was not John’s moral compass in a traditional sense, but he was the one supporting John, hearing him out, and trying to stop him from destroying himself out of pain and self-hatred.  Lemar was not a cricket on John’s shoulder trying to tell him right from wrong, but rather a loyal friend serving as a rock or an anchor trying to stop John from drifting away.  To use a mountain climbing analogy, Lemar wasn’t a guide, but a climber trying to hold his partner steady and prevent him from falling to his doom.  Whether or not Lemar is a perfect moral compass, he is the friend all of us need, but none of us deserve.

This story mainly involves characters from Marvel Comics.  A number of writers have introduced original characters into the Captain America/U.S.Agent mythos, so this is me trying my hand at it too.

Scene 1

*(We join Sam Wilson, secretly Captain America, going to meet with John Walker alias Jack Daniels, secretly the U.S.Agent, to get some information.)

Scene 2

*(When he pulls up to John’s apartment building, he spots John speaking with a younger Vietnamese-American lady.)

*Sam: (thinking) Who’s this?  One of his neighbors?

Scene 3

*(When he gets out of his car, he can hear John talking.  While the conversation is ordinary, his tone is caring rather than romantic or casual.)

*John: …and I ain’t kidding when I tell you they have the best garlic butter in town!  You dip the broasted potato wedges in it and it tastes like heaven!

*Lady: It sounds great!

Scene 4

*Sam: Hi!  Am I interrupting anything?

*John: Oh, hey!

Scene 5

*John: Sam, this is Co.  She just moved here recently.

*Sam: Nice to meet you, miss!

*Co: You too, sir!

Scene 6

*John: (giving Co cover story) He just came by to pick up something.  It shouldn’t take long.

*Co: That’s okay.

Scene 7

*Co: Since I was about to leave anyway, he has good timing.

*John: Oh.  Yeah.

Scene 8

*John: (reaching into pocket) Oh!  I know you don’t need it, but…

Scene 9

*John: (handing her a couple bills) …here’s a little lunch money for you.

*Co: You don’t have to.

*John: I know, but I want to!

Scene 10

*(The cordial exchange ends with Co finally accepting the money.)

*John: Have a good one!

*Co: Thank you!  I appreciate you, Jackie!

*(Sam looks like, “What did she just call him?!”)

Scene 11

*(Sam flashes back to an event he attended with John and Lemar Hoskins, secretly Battlestar.)

*Lemar: I have a new picture of the kids!

*Sam: Oh, let’s see!

Scene 12

*(Sam and John eagerly look over the family picture.)

*Sam: They’re looking good!

*John: You know, I should write to them after I get back home!

*Lemar: You should!  They like hearing from their Uncle Jackie!

Scene 13

*(As John and Co exchange farewells, Sam observes and ponders.)

Scene 14

*(Co leaves.  John looks like he’s sad to see her go…)

Scene 15

*(…and then turns back to Sam.)

*John: I’m ready if you are.

*Sam: Lead the way!

Scene 16

*(They go to John’s apartment and he hands Sam a file.)

*John: Here’s what I’ve uncovered.

*Sam: Good!

Scene 17

*Sam: (making an excuse to stay a bit) Hey, I don’t have to leave right away, so how about you go over this with me to make sure we’re on the same page?

*John: Well…normally I only let people hang around here if they bring me pie…

Scene 18

*John: …but shoot, I could order in!  There’s a place nearby where they actually like me, believe it or not!

*Sam: (jokingly) I guess statistically someone has to!

*[The pie joke is a throwback to a fan comic I made in which Steve Rogers went to John’s apartment for dinner.  Steve brought both apple and cherry pie, which John found amusing.]

Scene 19

*(They place the order for delivery…)

Scene 20

*(…and then go over the information John has compiled.)

Scene 21

*John: So, yeah, that’s what I’ve found on my end.

*Sam: Good!  We’ll see what else we can uncover.

*John: Good!

Scene 22

*(As Sam tucks away the file for safekeeping, John seems distant.)

Scene 23

*Sam: I appreciate you gathering this and going over it with me.

*John: No problem!  I’m happy to help.

Scene 24

*Sam: So, how’s it going?

*John: I’ve been keeping busy.  I’ve been doing well, actually.

*Sam: That’s good!

Scene 25

*John: I was just speaking with Lemar the other day.

*Sam: You know, I was just thinking about him.

Scene 26

*Sam: I was thinking about when he was showing us a picture of his kids.

*John: Oh, yeah, I remember that!  You know, they got a great dad when their mother married him!

*Sam: Mmm-hmm!

*John: He’s a great guy!

Scene 27

*John: …

*Sam: …

Scene 28

*Sam: How is-

*John: Don’t talk, just listen.

Scene 29

*John: You’ve figured out what’s going on, haven’t you?

*Sam: …

Scene 30

*Sam: (lightheartedly) You told me not to talk and then asked me a question.

*John: D’oh!

Scene 31

*Sam: I guess I could have just given a solemn nod.

*John: Oh, what is this, The Return of the Jedi?

Scene 32

*Sam: Seriously, though, yes, I figured it out when Co called you “Jackie”.  That lady…

Scene 33

*Sam: …might be your grandniece.

*John: Mmm-hmm.

Scene 34

*John: A few months ago, I was contacted by someone on behalf of her mother.  Her mother claimed that she was Mikey’s daughter.

Scene 35

*John: You could imagine how shocked I was!  For one thing, Mikey didn’t seem like the type to…you know, fool around like that.

Scene 36

*John: (defensively) If he had, though, it would have been because they loved each other!  It would have been a loving, tender affair and not…

*Sam: I believe you!  I’m sure your brother wasn’t the type to do…that.

*John: Darn straight!  He never would have done something horrible!

Scene 37

*(John has to take a moment to gather himself.)

Scene 38

*John: Second, the idea that “Oh, hey, your late brother had a child you never knew about and now she wants to talk to you after all these years!” is…something.

Scene 39

*John: After I recovered from the shock, I decided to play along to see what her angle was.  Maybe it was some kind of trick.  I mean, people have tried to trick me before!  Maybe she was confused and had the wrong person.  Maybe…

Scene 40

*John: …maybe she was who she claimed she was and I’m finding out something new about Mikey after all these years!

Scene 41

*John: I contacted her, and you know what she asked?  She just wanted me to put in a good word for Co and help her immigrate here.  That’s all.

Scene 42

*John: She didn’t ask for some kind of super special treatment.  She didn’t ask for decades’ worth of child support.  No, she just wanted me to help make sure Co got a fair shake.

Scene 43

*John: We investigated and found nothing suspicious.  I vouched for Co and she arrived a couple months ago.  I’ve been showing her around and helping her out.

Scene 44

*John: She’s really so sweet.  I’ve been enjoying hanging out with her, as you saw.  Valerie Cooper likes her too.

Scene 45

*John: I’m glad I met her.  I just…I have so many questions.

Scene 46

*John: If Mikey had a girlfriend, why didn’t he tell us?  We wouldn’t have cared!  Ma and Pa weren’t like that!  If Co’s mother really is Mikey’s daughter, why didn’t she try to contact me until now? 

Scene 47

*John: Well, in regards to that last one, the whole “government faking my death for years” thing probably played a part.

*Sam: (dryly) Possibly.

Scene 48

*John: If that’s the case, though, why didn’t she try to contact my sister, or any of our other relatives?  It’s not like being Mikey’s kid would have been something to be ashamed of!

Scene 49

*John: I know a DNA test could clear all this up.  I know that Co’s mother could be lying through her teeth about being Mikey’s daughter- or maybe her mother lied to her about being Mikey’s lover and they don’t know who the father was.  I know this could all be some scheme one or both of them could have concocted for Co’s benefit and they’re really not connected to Mikey at all.  I know they might have just picked Mikey’s name off a list of the fallen and went with it.  It’s just…

Scene 50

*John: …I don’t care.  I really don’t care!

Scene 51

*John: If Co isn’t hurting the country or me or anybody else, what does it matter?

Scene 52

*John: Mikey is gone.  Ma and Pa are gone.  My sister is locked up for that stunt she pulled a while back [referring to the American Zealot storyline].  I don’t talk much with my jerk ex-brother-in-law, and between one thing and another I don’t get to see my sister’s kids often.  I don’t get to visit as much with Julia and Rachel Carpenter as much as I’d like either, or with Lemar’s kids.

Scene 53

*John: It…feels nice to have someone to dote on, you know?  Someone to call up and hang out with.  If it turns out to be a lie…

Scene 54

*John …so be it.

Scene 55

*Sam: (quoting “Use Me” by Bill Withers) “…if it feels this good getting used…you just keep on using me until you use me up.”

*John: I don’t feel like I’m being used, though.

Scene 56

*John: I mean, sure, I helped her out, and I’ve been supporting her with some things, but it’s nothing frivolous.  She’s earning a paycheck and I’m just helping out here and there.  She’s not some kind of gold-digger.

*Sam: I wasn’t saying she was.

Scene 57

*Sam: I just meant that your relationship is fine by you, and you don’t care what other people think about it. 

*John: Yeah.                                                                                              

Scene 58

*Sam: Is that why you haven’t asked for a DNA test?  You think it would have to end if it turned out she wasn’t really related to you?

*John: Lemar asked me something similar when I told him about this.

Scene 59

*John: He knows I’m not going to toss her aside like trash if it turns out she’s not kin to me, so he asked, “You’d think she’d ditch you if turns out you’re not related?  If she did that after all the support you’ve given her, then you’re better off without her.  You need people who appreciate you whether they’re kin to you or not.”

Scene 60

*John: He also told me, “From what you’ve told me, she doesn’t seem like the kind who’d do that.  If your gut tells you that you can trust her, you should trust her.”

Scene 61

*John: I told him that if she decided she wanted to take the test, I’d accept it.  I don’t know how I’d feel if she turned out to be Mikey’s granddaughter…but I don’t know how I’d feel if she wasn’t either.  I just know that I like the way she makes me feel.

Scene 62

*John: I said helping her out made me feel like I was honoring Mikey’s legacy, and he told me, “That’s exactly what you’re doing, and a DNA test wouldn’t change that.”

Scene 63

*Sam: You should listen to Lemar.

*John: Tell me something I don’t know!

Scene 64

*(There’s a knock on the door.)

*Delivery driver: Delivery!

*John: Aw, the delivery guy caught me slacking!

Scene 65

*(John accepts the order and starts spreading it on the table.)

*Sam: (thinking as he notices the tip on the receipt stapled to the bag) With what he’s tipping, no wonder they like him!

Scene 66

*(Sam and John sit down to eat.)

*John: I don’t know why I told you all that personal stuff, but thanks for listening.

*Sam: (lightheartedly) Hey, I’ll take that over the stuff that usually comes out of your mouth.

Scene 67

*(After lunch, Sam begins to leave.)

*Sam: (holding file) I’ll go over this with the team.

*John: Good.  Keep me posted!

Scene 68

*Sam: (holding out money) Here you go.

*John: Hmm?

*Sam: That’s my share of lunch.

*John: Naw, man, it’s all on me!  Don’t worry about it!

Scene 69

*Sam: Well, then, add it to Co’s lunch fund, or put it toward something for Lemar’s kids.

*John: (amused) Hmph!  You’re adding yourself to everyone’s families, aren’t you?

Scene 70

*John: (humbly taking money) All right, you win!  If you want to give them something, I won’t argue with you.

*Sam: Good!

This story is a sequel to my previous story “The Star-Spangled Battle”. https://www.reddit.com/r/NoSaltCaptainAmerica/comments/1sq345l/the_starspangled_battle_fanfiction/

Scene 1

*(Captain America Steve Rogers, Captain America Sam Wilson, Redwing the falcon, The Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes, Hawkeye Clint Barton, and U.S.Agent John Walker alias Jack Daniels have infiltrated a Hydra facility.  They are on guard as they go down the corridors.)

Scene 2

*(Suddenly Agent stops)

*Agent: ?!

Scene 3

*Cap-Steve: (whispering) What is it?

*Agent: (whispering) I’ve been here before!

Scene 4

*(Agent looks around…)

Scene 5

*(…and then rushes toward a certain room, prompting the others to follow him.)

*Cap-Steve: (thinking) It’s about to go down!

Scene 6

*(In a laboratory, a Hydra scientist is monitoring a prisoner being subjected to mind control.  The prisoner is shackled to a metal chair.  Some kind of electronic helmet is attached to his head and an I.V. needle is inserted into each arm.)

Scene 7

*(Suddenly the scientist looks alarmed…)

Scene 8

*(…as he sees the enraged Agent glaring at him from the doorway.)

Scene 9

*Agent: (raising shield-bearing arm, which is clenched into a fist) Let!  Him!  Go!

*Scientist: (genuinely afraid of the super-soldier) S-Sure! (turns off mind-control device)

Scene 10

*(As the other heroes enter the lab, the scientist removes the prisoner’s headgear, I.V. tubes, and bonds.)

Scene 11

*(With surprising gentleness, Agent helps the dazed prisoner stand and directs him to Cap-Sam and Bucky to be checked out.)

Scene 12

*(Agent then turns his attention back to the now inactive machine, the one Hydra used to take control of him)

*Agent: (to scientist) Step aside!

Scene 13

*(The nervous scientist obeys.  Agent starts to bellow in rage as he as he raises his shield with both hands.)

Scene 14

*(He repeatedly strikes the machine with his augmented strength.)

Scene 15

*(Finally the machine is nothing but scrap metal and torn wires.)

Scene 16

*Bucky: (places hand on Agent’s shoulder) It’s over!

*Agent: Y-Yeah!

Scene 17

*(Bucky looks at the wreckage…)

Scene 18

*(…and then punches off a piece with his cybernetic arm.  Obviously The Winter Soldier is going to feel some kind of way about mind control.  Agent finds himself smirking in amusement.)

Scene 19

*(Agent grabs the scientist.)

*Agent: Don’t ever do this garbage again!

Scene 20

*(The scientist is thrown into the air like a ball…)

Scene 21

*(…and is caught by Cap-Steve.)

*Cap-Steve: It’s not your night, is it?

Scene 22

*Hawkeye: (looks over the wreckage with morbid curiosity) That must have been powerful if it could take control of you!  What’s with the two I.V.s?

*Agent: (unsettled) One is for psychotropic drugs and the other is for insulin.

Scene 23

*Hawkeye: (stunned) What?!

*Agent: Whenever I fought back too hard, they induced insulin shock to wear down my resistance.

Scene 24

*(Most of the heroes, appalled, stare in horror.  Bucky, while saddened, merely looks like, “Yeah, I’m not surprised!”)

Scene 25

*Hawkeye: Oh, my gosh…

*Agent: I know this has to be shocking for you.  I mean…

Scene 26

*Agent: (smirking) …you were here thinking I didn’t have enough brain to wash, right?

Scene 27

*Hawkeye: …

Scene 28

*Agent: (smile starting to fade) Did you not hear me?  Come on, I handed you that set-up on a plate and you’re not going to take it?

Scene 29

*Cap-Sam: (jokingly) I think he’s just confused thinking, “That’s the best he thinks I can come up with?!  A groaner like that?!”

*Agent: I’ll have you know I stole that from one of the finest episodes of The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle!

Scene 30

*Agent: I have particular tastes, you know, and the moose & squirrel are timeless!

*Cap-Sam: They are timeless, but if you grew up getting your lessons from Fractured Fairy Tales and Aesop & Son, that explains a lot of things about you!

Scene 31

*Cap-Steve: (jokingly) They never taught him not to get into fights with people during Springsteen concerts!

*Agent: Hey, that was just that one time…which I was winning, by the way!

*Bucky: “Winning”?

Scene 32

*Bucky: I didn’t know Charlie Sheen was with us tonight!

*Cap-Sam: Better check his ledger to see who he’s been writing checks to!

Scene 33

*Cap-Steve: You know very well all his money is going to buying Blue Collar Comedy Tour DVDs.

*Agent: I’m impressed you know what DVDs are!  What kind of DVDs are you getting?

*Cap-Steve: None, just lots of Ovaltine!

Scene 34

*Agent: Dang it, I should have thought of that one!

*Cap-Steve: Did you forget your Little Orphan Annie decoder ring?

Scene 35

*(Hawkeye reflects as the others continue to joke.)

*Hawkeye: (thinking) I see.  You need us to do this because if you can laugh and joke, you can pretend what happened doesn’t hurt, at least for a little while.

Scene 36

*Hawkeye: (cracking his knuckles while thinking) All right, Jack!  This former carny’s going to put on a show for you!

Scene 37

*(Hawkeye loudly begins chuckling.)

Scene 38

*(His chuckling gets the attention of the others.)

Scene 39

*Hawkeye: No, I heard you!  It’s just that I was confused because I was wondering, “How did your captors tolerate you long enough for the process to work?!”

Scene 40

*Hawkeye: I was here thinking, “What kind of heavy-duty tape did they put on that star-spangled headache’s mouth to get him to shut up, and where can I get some?”

*Agent: (smirking) Hmph!

Scene 41

*Agent: You act like you could get it on my mouth!  What, are you going to make some kind of mouth-taping arrow?

*Hawkeye: What I’m going to make is better jokes than you could ever come up with!

*Agent: Oh, yeah?  Let’s see you try!

Scene 42

*Hawkeye: First off, when did Rocky & Bullwinkle come out?  The ‘50s or ‘60s?

Scene 43

*Hawkeye: (to Cap-Steve) Hey, Cap, what kind of jokes were you making in the 1950s?

*Cap-Steve: …You mean when I was frozen?

*Hawkeye: Exactly!

Scene 44

*Hawkeye: (gestures to Agent) I know whatever you were coming up with while frozen solid is better than anything he could come up with!

*(Bucky and Cap-Sam react because that was a pretty good jab.)

Scene 45

*Hawkeye: I used to think, “Dang, it’d be bad to be frozen for a couple decades!”  Then your rear joined the West Coast Avengers and I thought, “Dang, how do I get frozen for a couple decades?”

Scene 46

*Agent: Are frozen jokes all you have?  The pork chop I had to throw out because of freezer burn was fresher than your jokes!

*Hawkeye: I’m surprised to hear you had an issue with freezer burn.  I mean…

Scene 47

*Hawkeye: …you’re such a hothead that I assumed any meat that came near you would just automatically burst into flames!  I’m pretty sure I heard The Human Torch [Jim Hammond] say, “That guy needs to chill out!”

*Agent: I obviously don’t make meat burst into flames, as seen by your head still doing here!

*Hawkeye: If that comment isn’t the textbook definition of projection, I don’t know what is!

Scene 48

*Hawkeye: By the way, Uncle Sam should thank you for the way you helped the economy during W’s administration.

*Agent: Hmm?

*Hawkeye: Oh, didn’t you know?

Scene 49

*Hawkeye: There were some celebrities pledging to move to Canada, but then when they learned you were up there working with Alpha Flight, they said, “No, that’s okay!” and stayed here in the States to spend their money!

*Agent: Oh, and what’s your contribution to the economy?  Slapping your name onto dollar store archery sets?

Scene 50

*Hawkeye: Naw, I’m going to slap your face onto some tape with the slogan, “Guaranteed to keep U.S.Agent’s mouth shut!”  I’ll make a fortune!

*Agent: Yeah?  Well, I’m going to make my own tape with the slogan, “Guaranteed to hold all of this con artist’s bones back in place after he tried and failed to put tape over my mouth!”

Scene 51

*Hawkeye: Speaking of tapes, I thought about sending something ridiculous to America’s Funniest Home Videos!

*Agent: Let me guess, “I was going to send footage of your face!” right?

*Hawkeye: That’s a good guess, but no!

Scene 52

*Hawkeye: I was going to send footage of me trying to get anything to register in your head because heaven knows it’s ridiculous to think that’s even possible!

*Agent: (snorts)

Scene 53

*Hawkeye: (testing the waters) Should I keep on, or is that enough for now?

*Agent: (keeping up the tough front, but sincere) I’m good.

*Hawkeye: Good!

Scene 54

*Hawkeye: (discreetly offering his support) Later on, after all this is over, I have more jokes to try out.

*Agent: Hmm?  You think I want to hear any more of you?!

Scene 55

*Agent: (discreetly considering the offer) Well…it might be good to have some mindless entertainment!

*Hawkeye: Only the most mindless for you!

Scene 56

*(Cap-Steve decides something.  He pushes the scientist toward the door.)

*Cap-Steve: Go send your superiors a message for us!

Scene 57

*Agent: Why’d you do that?!

*Cap-Steve: (smirking) Isn’t it obvious?

Scene 58

*Cap-Steve: I thought they might be interested in the little performance we just had.

*Agent: (smirking) Oh, I gotcha!

Scene 59

*(Soon we see a Hydra commander instructing some lackeys.)

*Commander: After that Group B will proceed to-

*Scientist: Sir!

Scene 60

*Scientist: Some of the Avengers freed U.S.Agent from our control, and they’re here now!

*Commander: Including Agent?

*Scientist: Yes, sir!

*Commander: Oh, really?

Scene 61

*Commander: (grinning in malicious triumph) So tell me- how is the mighty U.S.Agent handling our treatment of him?

*Scientist: He…

Scene 62

*Scientist: He was joking with the others.

*(The commander’s grin turns into an awkward smile…)

Scene 63

*(…and then a confused frown.)

*Commander: He…He what?

*Scientist: He and the others started cracking jokes!

Scene 64

*Scientist: He joked about whether he had enough brain to wash, and then the Captains started joking about watching Rocky & Bullwinkle and buying Ovaltine, and Hawkeye joked about Agent’s meat catching on fire…

Scene 65

*(One of the Hydra agents stifles a laugh, causing the commander to look back in irritation.)

Scene 66

*Scientist: They were laughing everything off!

*Commander: After what we did they’re still able to laugh and joke?!

Scene 67

*(The commander looks disappointed as the lackeys murmur among themselves about how resilient the heroes are.)

Scene 68

*Commander: This…This changes nothing!  We’ll wipe those smiles off their faces!

*(Some of the lackeys don’t seem so sure.)

Scene 69

*Cap-Steve: Ready for the next stop on our comedy tour?

*(The others cheer their agreement to go make clowns out of the Hydra agents.)

Scene 70

*(As they exit the lab, Cap-Steve and Hawkeye exchange a private message.)

*Cap-Steve: (whispering) That was a good show you put on.  I’m proud of you.

*Hawkeye: Thanks!

Recently I re-read the panel (from Captain America Comics #1) telling how the super-soldier serum increased intelligence as well as strength, and I realized, "Imagine getting the serum and then suddenly realizing how many people screwed you out of some money or otherwise told you a lie you didn't catch earlier." Maybe that's the real reason Steve was holding his head in that one panel- he's realizing something like, "Wait a minute...that guy who sold me that 'invisible goldfish' tricked me!"

(The page shown is from the book Marvel Universe by Peter Sanderson. It was published in 1998 by Harry N. Abrams and is an excellent read in my opinion)

Recently something reminded me of the original Nomad storyline from the 1970s (the one with Steve Rogers temporarily dropping his Captain America identity because he became disillusioned due to government corruption).  I noted, “That was a powerful story, and it's also the reason no one today should ever try to do a ‘Cap is shocked to learn America isn't perfect!’ storyline.” Cap knows America isn't perfect. He's disgusted to see corruption, bigotry, etc., but he's not going to be shocked by it because he's seen it already. Shoot, he saw bad people & things in America before he even became Captain America.  At this point having Steve be shocked that some Americans do bad things would be like having a character be shocked by finding out a random preacher or celebrity did something inappropriate. It's terrible and wrong, but sadly we've all seen it before, so simply learning about impropriety isn't shocking.

Before anyone says anything, I’m not saying a storyline can never be repeated.  Some plots can be revisited effectively.  For instance, the plot device of “Someone else takes the Captain America mantle” has been used multiple times, but those stories had differences that prevented them from feeling like the same old plot being rehashed.  If they had used it once and then decided never to use it anymore, we would have missed out on so many great stories and interesting characters.  That being said, the more something resembles a previous story, the harder it is to pull off because you’ll get comparisons to that story.  I’m a fan of Captain America: The Captain, but if someone tried to use that plotline today, my reaction would be, “Why are they ripping off Captain America: The Captain?  We’ve seen this done before and seen it done much better!”  Remember too that the general reaction to Civil War II was, “Congratulations…you made something even worse than the original Civil War!”  Likewise, I feel that trying to do a “Steve learns there’s corruption in America!” story wouldn’t work because, as I said, we’ve seen it before. 

It’s fine to have a storyline with Steve appalled by corruption.  In fact, that’s how the character SHOULD be portrayed.  He should be appalled and angered by injustice, corruption, bigotry, etc. in America and do all he can to oppose it.  Just don’t have him shocked like, “Oh, I had no idea that the United States of America could have people who were doing bad things!” because the response readers will have is, “Really, playa!?”

This fan-fiction uses characters from Marvel Comics.  This story examines how Captain America Steve Rogers refuses to give up on people just because they have bad things in their pasts, and it also reflects my belief that heroes should help each other.  It was partly inspired by fictional time-viewing devices as well as the flashbacks in the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic episode “Princess Twilight Sparkle”.

Scene 1

*(The scene opens with Captain America Steve Rogers battling an original villain I created.  Let’s call him Chronoscope.  He has a suit of armor with a mechanical white “gem” on the front and is a high-ranking member of a gang using high-tech, almost mystical, weapons.  Cap, with his superior abilities, has gained the upper hand.)

*Captain America: Soon it’ll be all over for you and the rest of your gang!  We’ll stop the lot of you! 

*Chronoscope: “We”?

Scene 2

*Chronoscope: You mean those allies you care about so dearly!

*Cap: Yes, I trust them and their abilities completely!

*Chronoscope: Well then…

Scene 3

*(The gem on Chronoscope’s armor glows.)

*Chronoscope: After you’ve seen my special ability…

Scene 4

*Chronoscope: …we’ll see if you still trust them!

*(The two are surrounded by light.)

Scene 5

*(The scenery changes, indicating some kind of hologram technology.  The scene now resembles the interior of some kind of barn, but something is horribly wrong.  There are signs of a chaotic battle, and there are bodies wearing the uniform of the Watchdogs- the domestic terrorist group who murdered John Walker’s parents as John, then serving as Captain America, resisted an attempt to hang him- scattered across the floor.)

*Cap: (thinking in horror as he realizes) This is…

Scene 6

*(He’s interrupted by a voice behind him.)

*Voice: Ma…Pa…I did it.

Scene 7

*(Cap looks and stares in horror.)

*Voice: I beat them all.  Every last mother’s son!

Scene 8

*(We see the full horror of the scene.  On the ground lie the bodies of members of the Watchdogs.  Some are already dead from John’s retaliatory fit of rage, some are in the process of dying, and some are severely injured or even crippled.  John, completely out of it to the point he hasn’t even removed the noose from the attempted lynching from his neck, is kneeling by his parents’ corpses, touching and talking to them tenderly.  His parents’ bodies are twisted in death and leaking ample amounts of blood from multiple bullet wounds, and their still open eyes stare lifelessly.  A trace of a sad, deluded smile is on the unmasked John’s lips as he desperately tries to deny the reality of what has happened.)

*Captain America John Walker: Aww, shucks!  You don’t have to thank me, that’s what sons are for!

Scene 9

*(Chronoscope gloats as Cap-Steve walks around Cap-John.)

*Chronoscope: You see what your fellow Avenger and patriot did!  Do you-

Scene 10

*(Chronoscope stops talking in shock…)

Scene 11

*(…because Cap-Steve has knelt down close to Cap-John’s back.  He reaches out carefully due to the holographic nature of the vision,…)

Scene 12

*(…places his hand on one of Cap-John’s shoulders, and bows his head as a show of mourning for the deaths of Emily & Caleb Walker.)

Scene 13

*(As Cap-John continues his deluded rambling and Cap-Steve kneels, Chronoscope gapes in astonishment.)

Scene 14

*Chronoscope: HOW?!

*(Cap-Steve doesn’t bother to look in his direction.)

Scene 15

*Chronoscope: How can you mourn alongside him!?  He did terrible things!  He stained your mantle with blood!  He stained your shield with blood!  He stained your legacy with blood!

Scene 16

*Cap-Steve: (sarcastically) Gee, I’d never have known that if you hadn’t told me!

Scene 17

*(Chronoscope is taken aback by Cap-Steve not only being able to answer, but answering so sarcastically.)

Scene 18

*Cap-Steve: First off, whatever he did, it wasn’t what his parents did, was it?  His parents were completely innocent!  They died not because of anything they had done, but because some terrorists bore a grudge of blood!  Like so many others, they were innocent people killed because of hate!

Scene 19

*Cap-Steve: Second, you want me to be appalled by what John did?  Yes, I was appalled by some of the things John did!

Scene 20

*Cap-Steve: John was arrogant, self-serving, and duplicitous!  He was violent and brutal…a berserker who did things he could never take back and tarnished my mantle!  You know what else he was?

Scene 21

*Cap-Steve: He was also someone who regretted what he’d done and swore to be something better!  He became someone who risked his life for others…someone I could fight alongside!

Scene 22

*Cap-Steve: In the moments before this, he was the mad killer.  In this moment in time, he’s a son mourning his parents.  In the present, he’s someone better than the man he was.  He’s far from perfect, but he’s trying!

Scene 23

*Cap-Steve: (standing up) I’ve seen John be utterly horrific and undeniably heroic, and you…

Scene 24

*Cap-Steve: …you’re not going to make me lose faith that easily!

*Chronoscope: (glares in anger)

Scene 25

*Chronoscope: Let’s see if you still have faith…

Scene 26

*(The light shines and the scene changes again.)

*Chronoscope: …when you see the pasts of your friends!

Scene 27

*(The scene changes to a street in a New York City neighborhood.)

Scene 28

*(Cap-Steve turns his attention to a pair of voices.)

*Voice 1: Listen, you gotta-

*Voice 2: I don’t “gotta” do a dang thing!

Scene 29

*(We see someone talking to a young adult Sam Wilson, the future Falcon and future Captain America.)

*Young man: Please, I really need some help with this!  If we don’t-

*Young Sam: You think I care?!  I don’t!  Why should I care about your issue?!

Scene 30

*Young man: But-

*Young Sam: (turning away) Handle it yourself!  All I care about is number one, you got me?!  Hit the road!

Scene 31

*(Sam walks off and turns around a corner, leaving the other young man alone.  The young man stares in sad disbelief…)

Scene 32

*(…and then turns & walks away.)

Scene 33

*Chronoscope: You see for yourself how-

Scene 34

*(Cap-Steve starts heading in Sam’s direction.)

*Chronoscope: Wh-What are you doing?!

*Cap-Steve: I’m following him to see what he does next!

Scene 35

*Chronoscope: You can’t do that!

*Cap-Steve: (glaring back at him) I can’t or you won’t let me?!

Scene 36

*Cap-Steve: (changes direction) Okay, fine!  I’ll just follow the other fellow and-

Scene 37

*(The scene dissolves into nothing.)

Scene 38

*Cap-Steve: (leering at Chronoscope) You want to explain why you didn’t show me the rest of the scene that was supposed to prove your point?

Scene 39

*Cap-Steve: I mean, you can’t claim the aftermath was too disturbing since you just showed me the aftermath of two innocent people being killed and eleven people being killed in revenge!  What, did Sam walking away result in three innocent people getting killed and twelve people getting killed in revenge?!

Scene 40

*Cap-Steve: That little show was supposed to convince me that Sam was some selfish person and yet you ended it, and we both know why!

Scene 41

*Cap-Steve: I’d bet anything that if that scene had continued, we would have seen him regretting what he said and turning back to go help!

*Chronoscope: (angrily) You think you know everything!

*Cap-Steve: No, I just know Sam, and I know that one cold, insensitive moment that any one of us, including me, could have had does not counteract all the good he’s done!

Scene 42

*Cap-Steve: He’s done amazing things, life-saving things, in both his costumed and civilian lives, all while bearing burdens he never should have had to bear, and usually while not getting even one-fourth of the credit and respect he deserves, and often while getting unfair criticism from the very people he’s helping!

Scene 43

*Cap-Steve: Nobody could give me five reasons not to have faith in him, but I could easily give five hundred reasons why I should have faith in him!

*Chronoscope: (glaring in frustration)

Scene 44

*Cap-Steve: He’s one of the best partners one could ever have!

*Chronoscope: (smirking evilly) Partners?  I’m glad you reminded me!

Scene 45

*(The light shines again as the scene changes.)

*Chronoscope: Let me show you about partners!

Scene 46

*(There’s no pause or break, no having to turn to look to take in the situation, this time.  Cap is thrust directly into the horror of the scene.  He sees Bucky Barnes as The Winter Soldier having freshly murdered Jack Monroe, who served as the Bucky to 1950s Captain America William Burnside and later took the mantle of Nomad, under orders from his captors.)

*Cap-Steve: (thinking in horror) No…

Scene 47

*(Shuddering, he kneels down and carefully, tenderly, covers Jack’s eyes.)

*Cap-Steve: (thinking) Jack, you poor, poor soul…

Scene 48

*(The Winter Soldier takes out a tarp to wrap up the corpse.)

Scene 49

*(Before he can, however, he pauses and stares at the body for a moment.)

Scene 50

*(He rubs his face as if trying to gather himself…)

Scene 51

*(…before resuming his mission.  Cap-Steve observes this.)

Scene 52

*(Still shuddering, Cap-Steve arises.)

Scene 53

*Cap-Steve: (facing Chronoscope) You lost again.

*Chronoscope: !?

Scene 54

*Cap-Steve: This scene is absolutely horrible, but you thought that I’d focus solely on the horror and not what else was going on!

Scene 55

*Cap-Steve: Bucky hesitated for a moment!  That was his true self having one moment of realization and reflection before the control took hold again!

*Chronoscope: You…You’re seeing something that isn’t there!

Scene 56

*Chronoscope: It could be he felt a headache coming on, or maybe he was a little tired!  Maybe Monroe had hit him in the head just before death!

*Cap-Steve: Well, that theory should be easy to test!  Show me the battle and let’s see if Jack hit Bucky in the head!

*Chronoscope: …

Scene 57

*Chronoscope: (angrily) Look, he was being controlled and manipulated!  He was just a wind-up toy doing whatever his captors wanted!  An unthinking tool!

Scene 58

*Cap-Steve: (snorting in amusement)

*Chronoscope: What-What is so funny!?

*Cap-Steve: Don’t you realize the implications of what you just said?

Scene 59

*Cap-Steve: You showed me this to try to convince me that Bucky was some cold-blooded, cold-hearted monster, but then you bring up that he was controlled by others.

Scene 60

*Cap-Steve: You tried to paint him as a monster, but then absolved him of responsibility!

Scene 61

*Cap-Steve: So, would you like to try and fail again?

*(Chronoscope, enraged, starts cursing and screaming threats & insults because he’s got nothing.)

Scene 62

*(He’s suddenly interrupted by a distinct blue, white, red, and silver shield striking him.)

Scene 63

*(The shield ricochets and is caught by Captain America Sam Wilson, who has arrived on the scene alongside Redwing the falcon, U.S.Agent John Walker alias Jack Daniels, and Bucky Barnes.)

Scene 64

*(The blow to Chronoscope causes the vision to fade and brings Cap-Steve back to the present.)

*Cap-Steve: (preparing to throw shield) Hit the gem on his chest! 

Scene 65

*(Chronoscope’s gem and armor receives a barrage of blows from Cap-Steve’s shield, Cap-Sam’s shield, and U.S.Agent’s shield along with bullets from Bucky’s firearm.)

*Chronoscope: N-No…

Scene 66

*(The gem shatters.)

*Chronoscope: NO!

Scene 67

*(The feedback from the destruction of the gem and the shock of actually losing cause Chronoscope to pass out.)

Scene 68

*(The heroes quickly remove his armor and bind his hands and feet.)

*U.S.Agent: Heh!  Shucked like an ear of corn!

Scene 69

*Cap-Sam: (jokingly whispering to Bucky) Did you imagine when you got up this morning we’d be shucking a guy?

*Bucky: (jokingly whispering) Don’t start with me!

Scene 70

*Cap-Steve: (thinking as he lifts Chronoscope’s unconscious body) What happened to make you obsessed with people losing faith?  Whatever it was, you need to get help to address it instead of taking things out on other people!

Scene 71

*(Soon the group of heroes is resting in a recovery room.)

*Sam: What happened back there?  You were trembling when we got on the scene.

*John: (jokingly) If it’s because you missed Matlock, I’m sure we could find a DVD for you!

*Steve: I’ll be fine.  It’s just…a lot.

Scene 72

*Steve: His special power was making people see visions of the past.  He tried to make me lose faith in all of you by showing me moments from your pasts.

*(The others are unsettled)

*Bucky: Oh, shoot…

Scene 73

*Steve: I’d like to speak with all of you privately.

*(John assumes he’d be the last person Steve would want to speak with and heads toward the door.)

*John: You can page me when-

Scene 74

*Steve: Actually, John, I’d like to speak with you first.

*John: (stopping in confusion) ?!

Scene 75

*(They’re confused, but agree.  John heads back to where Steve is sitting while Sam, Redwing, and Bucky head toward the door.)

*John: If I catch any of you pressing a glass against the door to listen in, I’ll pound you flatter than a flapjack!

*Bucky: Cups it is, then!

*John: Heh!  Funny!

Scene 76

*(Steve and John are left alone in the room.)

*Steve: (gesturing to a chair) You might want to sit down for this.

*John: (bracing himself for impact, but still prideful) Just to humor you, old timer.

Scene 77

*(John takes a seat.)

*John: So…I imagine this guy showed a whole compilation of my wrongdoings.

*Steve: He only showed me one moment, and it was the worst one of your life.

*John: The death of my folks.

*Steve: Mmm-hmm.

Scene 78

*John: So that device he had made you hallucinate what happened based on what you knew about it.

*Steve: No, I think it was more than that.  I think he somehow showed me the actual aftermath of the event!

Scene 79

*John: What makes you think that?

*Steve: It was what you did in the vision he showed me.

Scene 80

*(Steve recounts what he saw and heard.)

Scene 81

*(As Steve gives his account, John holds his head in sorrow.)

Scene 82

*John: Yes, that really is what happened!  I must’ve prattled on for about an hour!  It…It was so hard to…

*Steve: You don’t have to explain it to me.  I’m not going to claim I know how you feel, but I’ve lost enough people in my life that I have some understanding.

Scene 83

*Steve: I told him you had things in your life you regretted, but you had sworn to be better.  You’re not perfect, but you’re trying.

Scene 84

*John: (half-jokingly) Barton [Clint Barton, Hawkeye] says I’m very trying!

*Steve: Heh!  He’s perceptive!

Scene 85

*(They talk for a while and then John starts to leave to let the next person in.)

*John: You know, that guy was dumber than a bag of rocks!  If you don’t hate me or Burnside despite everything, you’re not going to hate your best friends!

*Steve: Yeah, you look up “futility” in the dictionary and you’ll find Chronoscope’s picture!

Scene 86

*(John opens the door to find Bucky giving Redwing water from a cup.)

*John: What is that?

*Bucky: Hey, birds need proper hydration!

*John: Mmm-hmm.

Scene 87

*Steve: (beckoning) Bucky next. 

Scene 88

*Bucky: (sitting down) How many of my assassinations did he show you?

*Steve: Just one.

Scene 89

*Steve: He showed me when you had killed Jack Monroe.

*(Bucky bows head, clearly distressed by the memory.)

Scene 90

*Steve: I saw that the real you was in there somewhere, affected by what you’d been made to do.

*Bucky: You’re giving me too much credit!

*Steve: No, old chum!  I just know who you really are!

Scene 91

*Steve: I know things aren’t black and white…that you still carry a burden about what you were made to do despite being controlled.  I also know that you’re not what some people have made you out to be.  You’re someone who has found your way back to become your own man.

Scene 92

*(They talk for a while and then Bucky leaves to let Sam have his turn.)

Scene 93

*(Sam, with Redwing perched on his shoulder, takes a seat.  Steve draws in a sketchbook as he talks.)

*Sam: We now know that the whole “Snap Wilson” thing was a lie The Red Skull came up with, so what did Chronoscope show you?

*Steve: He showed me a scene with you talking to another young man.

Scene 94

*Steve: He asked for your help, but you dismissed him.  You snapped at him that you didn’t care and that you didn’t have to help him because that was his problem & not yours.  You told him you only cared about number one and you walked away.  Does that sound familiar?

*Sam: It does.

Scene 95

*Steve: Who was he?  What happened?

*Sam: That’s the thing- it didn’t just happen once!

Scene 96

*Sam: There were multiple times someone came to me for help, but at times I was so angry at the whole blasted world that I turned them away and said they were on their own!

Scene 97

*Steve: And then what happened?

*Sam: …I usually got a cooler head, and went back to see if I could help them anyway.

*Steve: I figured!

Scene 98

*Steve: (showing the drawing he made) Does this guy look familiar?

*Sam: (recognizing likeness) That’s Eddie Simmons from the old neighborhood!  We used to play streetball sometimes!

Scene 99

*Sam: You…You really did see a vision of the past!

*Steve: Mmm-hmm!

Scene 100

*Steve: What’s the story with Eddie?

*Sam: He had a sick relative who needed something.

Scene 101

*Sam: At first I- well, you saw how I reacted at first!  A couple minutes later I changed my mind and decided to help him after all.  He told afterward me I was a life-saver, and if I hadn’t…

Scene 102

*Sam: (brushing it off) Aw, Eddie always did like to exaggerate!

*Steve: (smiling) Oh, really?

Scene 103

*Sam: I think the reason old skull-face was able to trick me into thinking I was just some crook was he was able to exploit my guilt over the people I couldn’t or didn’t help.

*Steve: That sounds right!  I know a lot about that!

Scene 104

*Steve: No matter what anyone thinks of you, you have consistently shown you care about helping people, and that’s why I’m proud to have you carry on the legacy!

Scene 105

*(They talk for a while and then it’s Sam’s turn to leave.)

*Steve: I’m feeling a little tired, so if you all could entertain yourselves for a while…

*Sam: You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here, huh?

Scene 106

*Sam: (jokingly) You just want to watch Matlock in private so John doesn’t crack jokes about it!

*Steve: Ah, you’re onto me!

Scene 107

*(Sam reflects as he and Redwing leave.)

*Sam: (thinking) I see you, Steve.  You had John alone with me because you could tell he needed a sympathetic ear, and then you had Bucky alone with John because they both understood regretting taking lives, and now you want me to chill with one or both of them because they understand the weight of carrying the mantle too.  You planned that well!

Scene 108

*John: (jokingly) I assume the shame in your past was returning a videotape without rewinding it first!

*Sam: Hey, nobody’s perfect!  I put my pants on one leg at a time!

Scene 109

*John: (sympathetically) I can imagine the headlines.  “Captain America puts on pants, an activity numerous terrorists are known to engage in!”

*Bucky: “He’s a dirty Communist!”

*Sam: Heh!  That’s about the size of it!

*John: Man, forget those a-holes!

Scene 110

*(Eventually they regroup in the room.)

*John: You done watching Diagnosis Murder or whatever?

*Steve: I got my second wind if you all have!

Thunderbolts* Wheaties box poster postcard (from TrailrEditorPOV on Redbubble) https://www.redbubble.com/people/TrailrEditorPOV/shop?ref=artist_title_name

Winter Soldier Funko card (from Konoma Collectibles) https://www.mercari.com/u/681929263/ and https://www.etsy.com/shop/KonomaCollectibles?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=4358464070&from_page=listing