The Bloodstone Hunt Part 4: Blood in the Sea

While trying to prevent Baron Zemo from obtaining the third Bloodstone fragment, Captain America finds himself fighting Batroc’s Brigade in the waters near the Bermuda Triangle. The fight takes a turn when a swarm of frenzied sharks start heading their way. Batroc and his crew retreat back into a sunken commercial airliner and trap Captain America outside.

Meanwhile, on the surface, Diamondback finds Zemo’s ship with the help from another vessel and gets the drop on him. Unfortunately, while she is busy subduing the Baron his assistant, a clairvoyant named Tristram Micawber gets the drop on her with a gun, leading to a tense stand-off.

Back below the waves, Batroc watches as Captain America struggles to fight off the sharks and can’t let his old nemesis meet such an ignoble fate and swims out to help him. Eventually, everyone is able to scramble back to the boat.

By this time, Diamondback has knocked out Micawber and threatens to shoot Zemo if Batroc doesn’t hand over the Bloodstone fragment. He tosses it to her, forcing Diamondback to reach out to get it. This allows Zaran to toss one of his throwing knives into her shoulder, sending her falling overboard. As the villains make a quick getaway, they recover the third fragment, but when Zemo goes to put it with the others he discovers that Diamondback had stolen them in the confusion.

Back in the water, Captain America has escaped the shark and rescues Diamondback from the water. As they climb abord the plane piloted by John Jameson, they are unaware that they are being observed by a mysterious man in a black-and-white skull mask. As Cap patches Diamondback’s shoulder, she reveals that she managed to swipe two of the Bloodstones, much to Cap’s surprise. Now in the lead, they head to the next destination, a pyramid in the Egyptian desert. Going inside, the pair are looking around for the fourth Bloodstone fragment when they accidentally activate a floor trap that sends them falling into a pit filled with venomous snakes.

Recurring Characters

Captain America, Diamondback, Baron Zemo, Crossbones, Batroc’s Brigade (Batroc, Zaran, Machete), Tristram Micawber, Bloodstone (corpse)

Night of the Scourge Part 3: Conflagration

US Agent has been dispatched to the estate of the Power Broker to stop an assassination attempt on Curtiss Jackson. Entering the tunnel to Jackson’s secret lab, the Agent is pinned down by gunfire from the assassin known as the Scourge of the Underworld. Tossing his shield, US Agent shatters Scourge’s gun, prompting him to flee. Debating on if he should follow Scourge or continue looking for Jackson, he decides to follow after Scourge as he has better odds finding him.

Meanwhile, Jackson and Pricilla Lyons — aka Vagabond — have managed to reach the Power Broker’s lab. Curtiss seals the door behind them. Getting a moment to catch their breath, Jackson explains to Pricilla that he never underwent the Power Broker process because it has a 50/50 chance of causing horrific deformities.

Outside, US Agent catches up to Scourge just as he arrives outside the sealed laboratory. Thinking he is being pursued by Captain America, Scourge refuses to use lethal force against him since — in his mind — they are both champions of justice. However, when the US Agent refuses to stop chasing in, Scourge blasts the ceiling with his spare gun causing it to collapse on the Agent, burying him alive. Assuming his pursuer is dead, Scourge then begins planting plastic explosives to blow up the door and enter the lab.

Recurring Characters

US Agent, Vagabond, Scourge of the Underworld, Curtiss Jackson