Captain America

Sharon Carter

Since their defeat at the hands of the Fantastic Four*, the Thunder Gods gang had to pool their efforts to gather more weaponry, more members to create an even greater fighting force. Right now, they called the whole gang to have a meeting of the highest order and decide what their next move would be.

* (See FF Annual 2002-recapping Gregg.)

Even though that Rocky was their most supreme member, the master of all their special weapons, it was Bull who was their leader. And he who should command them.

"Listen to me, ya yahoos," Bull said, standing in front of the gathered gang members. "Sure we had our letdowns at the hands of the Fantastic four. Sure they defeated us and there was little we could do about them. We took away the Thing's powers and orange hide, but that was only on a temporary level. But we can win, we can do better."

There was applause and cheers and hoots and hollers from every gang member, including Rocky.

"But the Thing is nothing but an overrated muscleman. He can defeat us because he has the strength on his side. What we need to do now is concentrate on Cap'n 'Merica. He has had recent troubles with Mr. Hyde, the Absorbing Man, and then, the Mad Thinker, his Awesome Android, Klaw, the Werewolf by Night, Mr. Satan and his cult, and our old friend the Hate Monger who joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan*. He won't be expecting an attack by us and our super weapons."

* (See Captain America #9-16-Gregg.)

They applauded in response to his careful words.

"How will we defeat Captain America? Are you saying we just attack, because if you do I think that you are mistaken? 'Member he don't got no super powers, like the Thing!"

"Of course, I remember that minute detail. WE shall use other weapons to defeat him. But I was referring to our modus operandi."

"And that is?"

"He has been known to be friends with a police officer called the Sarge. We will get at Cap, through him."

The clapping and cheering was replaced with insane laughter.

Captain America sat with the Sarge at a coffee shop, having breakfast and genuinely relaxing, as Cap talked to him about the crimes infesting the city while he read the Daily Bugle.

"Sounds like you have everything under control?" the Sarge said, as he looked over the top lip of the folded paper. "If you have any problems you let me know and I'll sic Code:Blue on them. They may not be the NYPD but they're good fighters and good men and women."

"I've met them. They are. I guess us super types make your lives easier for you, by mopping up the mess that the criminals spill."

"But they're not without their cost, eh?"

"That's right."

Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity at the entrance of the coffee shop and there were a group of leather clad individuals entering the restaurant. Cap and the Sarge immediately looked to the activity and the Sarge recognized them.

"That's the Thunder Gods gang. I wonder what they want. Cover me, Cap, while I deal with them." The Sarge took out his revolver and pointed it at the leader of the gang.

"No," Cap whispered. "I would like to know what they want first. Violence is not always the way."

"Everyone, hug the floor!" The Thunder Gods' Gang Leader said with force in his voice. "No cries for help, no sudden religious conversions. We just want one man and that man is you!!" he said, pointing at the gun-toting Sarge.

"Me?!" The Sarge said. "What do you want with me?"

"Wouldn't you like to know, smart fella?" the leader of the gang said. "Rocky, get 'im!"

Upon hearing his leader's orders, Rocky rushed forward, slinging his gun over his shoulder, and approached the Sarge. He grabbed his arm and started to inch forward, away from the throng of people laying down on the floor.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that, Rocky!" Cap said, separating the two men.

"Who's gonna stop me? You?! Captain Whitebread?! Yer no match for us." Rocky said in one breath as he took out his amchine gun and fired it point blank at Cap's chest. Thankfully, Cap's costume was made of kevlar and he swirled out of the just in time to avoid the blast.He fell backward, ever backward, to the other side of the coffee shop, knocking the wind out of him.

"Why, you bastard--!! That's my friend that you wasted just there," The Sarge yelled, as he pointed his revolver at Rocky's face.

Rocky smiled.

Another Thunder God nerve-pinched him into unconscious, as he dropped the gun.

As he regained consciousness, Cap saw the Thunder Gods carry the Sarge away into their van. He was helpless to save his friend.

Steve Rogers' Apartment

"Just tell me what happened from the top?" Sharon Carter asked Cap when he returned to his apartment. "Because, babe, you look beat."

"I was in the coffee shop with the Sarge when this street gang, clad in leather attire, came in and kidnapped him."

"And there was nothing that you could do to stop them."

"No, I was helpless. They were a couple steps above a regular street gang because they were employed with hi-tech weaponry. I've seen its like before. They must have gotten them off the black market. I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"You have to stop them of course. Listen, I've been in SHIELD for a long time and I may be able to pull some strings."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to use my computer to get into the SHIELD encrypted website to see if they have a file on these guys."

"Go to it, Sharon. If I wasn't so hurting I could kiss you."

"Save your kisses until we save the Sarge." With that said, Sharon open the SHIELD website and typed in the Thunder Gods name for a search and when she got the results, she printed it out. "Okay, this is what I got. Their headquarters is the old Acme Warehouse and they fought the Fantastic Four during that wave of hate last year."

"I can't wait for my wounds to heal. We have to move now. The Acme is probably where they're holding the Sarge. Let's go."

The Acme Warehouse

"Okay, now that you got me all hogtied here, you mind telling me what you want with me?' the Sarge ordered, leaning against a series of crates, tied in hardware store style rope. His gun was taken from him and kept with Rocky, for safekeeping. "I have plenty of friends out there, which include Code: Blue and Captain America. I'm sure they're combing the city looking for me."

"In fact, we are counting on that," the Thunder Gods leader said, proudly.

"And why is that? What do you have planned for them and me?"

"Why, we just want to prove to Captain America and the NYPD that we are a match to be reckoned with. We took away the Thing's powers for a time* and we want to do the same to Captain America."

* (See Fantastic Four #18-Gregg.)

"That's all we wanted to hear," Cap said, as he and Sharon Carter, who brandished her service revolver, entered the warehouse or what was left of it. "Now that we know your plans for destruction we can end it here and now."

"And Cap didn't come alone this time," Sharon said, pointing her gun at them. "You are all under arrest by the authority of SHIELD." More SHIELD agents entered the warehouse, brandishing their own brand of weaponry.

"Rocky, hit them wit' that gun!" The leader said, barking out orders like he was born to do that little thing.

Rocky took out his machine gun but before he could fire, Cap hurled his shield and chopped the gun in two.

"I don't think so, Thunder Gods. This is over, here and now."

As the SHIELD disarmed the Thunder Gods gang and led them as prisoners to the Helicarrier above them, Cap untied the Sarge and gave him back his revolver.

"Here you go, Sarge. This is better in your hands than mine," Cap said.

The Sarge took it. "Thanks, Cap. Now you know that this whole things could have been avoided if you handled them to begin with or let me use my ways to deal with them."

"I guess you're right."

"You're right, Cap. Violence is not always the answers to life's problems but sometimes it could be useful. Next time you need to have a little faith in me, yer old pal, the Sarge."

This was something that Cap had to ponder on.