Initiative 2028

Patriots!

Barbara Monroe, also known as Miss America, felt a odd degree of amusement as she sat in the briefing room of the Washington DC branch of the Initiative. Like posts around the country it had a meeting table and chairs, briefing screen, communications center and other high tech features. Admittedly, theirs was probably a bit better than most, as the Patriots were considered a showcase team by their commander, Henry Peter Gyrich.

The Patriots were a team of heroes modeled after the Liberty Legion, a team of World War Two heroes, as well as their successors the Liberteens. The heroes in the team were either chosen for their similarity to the original heroes or were deliberately redesigned to fit the mold of a earlier hero. How wise that was Miss America didn't know, but....

Across from her, the blond heroine Liberteen had one of the unique health drinks her biology required. Once a Olympic athlete at thirteen she was recruited into a attempt to replicate Captain America's biology through surgical reconstruction. While possessed of superhuman abilities her body was in many ways quite inhuman, needing unique neutriants and medication to survive. She wore a simple red, white and blue jumpsuit, lightly armored to give her freedom of movement.

Whiz was the team speedster, a modified clone of the hero Whizzer, wearing a yellow bodysuit based on his predecessor's. Created by Arnim Zola as a foot soldier, the copy of Robert Frank had rebelled, escaping custody and going underground. Found by agents of the Initiative he was offered a salary and the chance to be a hero, both of which he accepted.

Diamond was a seemingly normal young man with the ability to take on a organic diamond like form. Ellis Morrow was the grandson of the original Blue Diamond, and had submitted himself to experiments to awaken similar powers in himself. Unlike his grandfather, however, the blue and white clad Ellis was motivated merely by a need for fame and fortune.

Frost Bite was a sexy, vampish woman with powers over ice and col;d. Her background was a mystery, though Miss America speculated she was of more mystical origins than the others. Where ever she was from, Frost Bite was a eager member of the team, and the ice woman seemed motivated by more than the usual hunger for glory.

Red Raven was... a bit of a joke, in Miss America's eyes. Based off the Liberty Legion hero much like the rest of them, he was simply a army officer equipped with a red winged battle suit. He could fly, was somewhat strong, and that was about it. He was also the unofficial cannon fodder of the group, with three troopers so far having served as Raven.

"All right," Miss America rose as Red Raven took his seat, "we're all here except for Thin." She looked at their government liason, "Any word on her whereabouts?"

Olivia Dickson, otherwise known as the shape changing heroine Thin, gave Miss America a cool smile. "As you know, she only turns up as needed," she answered calmly. She sat back, "Let's get on with it."

Thin was the granddaughter, she said, or the original Thin Man, a WW II operative for the US. That couldn't be confirmed because no DNA samples of her parents were on file, but she possessed the same limited shapeshifting powers as the Thin Man. At will she could take on a flat, elastic shape that could slide under doors and wrap around others with crushing force.

"What's on the schedule this week?" Diamond asked bluntly. He sighed, "I have a commercial to film, assuming I can fit it in."

Miss America felt her lip curl in disgust, but controlled her reaction. "We have standard patrols this week," she said, "as well as a Presidential reception to guard. Also, several representatives of the Winter Guard from Russia will be visiting."

"We'll need to be careful with the Guard," Olivia added in her government role, "the Russians are still behind us in biotech, and their agents will be assigned to gather whatever useful data they can. Liberteen, you especially need to be on guard."

"They want my DNA?" Liberteen guessed as she munched on a green, unhealthy looking bar of engineered food.

"That and any other bio-scans they can get," Red Raven nodded professionally. "Do they still have the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man armored suits? They have good sensor capacity, tho nothing like our technology."

'He's more in the know than I thought. Interesting,' Olivia noted. "Yes," Olivia said aloud, "you'll need to avoid both of those suits if possible."

Liberteen made a face as she finished choking down her food. "If they want my augments we ought to give them to Russia," she scowled, "the soldiers would revolt if they had to put up with everything I do."

Frost Bite put her hand on her seat mate's shoulder, "Be brave, little one. Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed."

Liberteen gave her a weak smile, "Thanks, Frosty."

Whiz nervously tapped the table, his white and gold bodysuit clinging to the thin young man's body. "Standard patrols?" he asked impatiently, "You can all wait here if you like, and I'll run back to tell you if something goes wrong."

"No," Miss America stepped on that firmly, "bad idea."

"Why not?" Diamond gave her a hostile look as he asked, "You know how hard it is to run in my diamond form?"

"And what if someone puts a garrote line at neck level?" Red Raven noted flatly. He drew a finger across his throat, "Slash."

Whiz paled. "They wouldn't...," he said weakly.

Miss America shrugged, "That's how they got the first Super Saber when he was operating as a US agent. Died in Baghdad during Desert Storm II."

"I think I'll be a bit more cautious going through town," Whiz muttered.

"So, is that it?" Liberteen asked. She was fidgeting in her seat, looking miserable, "It's nearly time for my meds."

Miss America felt a pang of sympathy, "Go on, I think we've covered everything." As most of the team hurried out Miss America sighed as she watched Liberteen and muttered, "Whoever did that to her should be shot."

Olivia, who had been lingering nearby, gave her a wry smile. "She volunteered and knew the risks going in," she noted.

"At thirteen?" Miss America raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"All right," Olivia conceded that, "maybe her parents should have read through the contract more closely."

Miss America nodded silently. Reluctantly she asked, "Is President Richards happy with our preformance?"

"Oh yes," Olivia nodded as she smiled, "you and your team are one of her favorites recently." She didn't add, 'Especially after the California mess' but both women knew that was the subtext. Changing the subject she asked, "Are you still seeing that talk show host?"

Miss America looked amused, "I think she'd prefer to still be called a reporter."

Olivia smirked, "And when was the last time she reported anything?"

"Point," Miss America admitted. "Maya and I aren't seeing each other any more," she admitted, "I broke it off."

Olivia looked surprised as they walked out of the meeting room into their headquarters. "I thought you liked her?" she asked, the two picking up sodas from a nearby terminal.

"I do," Miss America admitted as they went into the recreation room, her sitting on a couch as Olivia took a chair nearby, "but it got too complicated keeping secrets from her."

"Ah," Olivia nodded knowingly.

Miss America shrugged slightly. Olivia was aware of her triple identity of US Agent, but thankfully did not go into it while they were sitting in the rec room. "You can only dodge explaining where you go so many times," she looked sheepish, "Maya decided I was having affairs."

Olivia nearly choked on her drink. "You?!" she yelped, coughing.

"Yeah, well...," Miss America smiled back, "I suppose it was better than her figuring out what I was really out doing."

To be continued....

Notes: The Patriots are all based on the Liberty Legion/Liberteens characters. Since the Patriot probably wouldn't be on a team named after him I decided to make a character called Liberteen. She may turn up more, as the idea of a surgery based heroine interests and kinda creeps me out.