It all started with a funeral. Captain Midland was laid to rest, having died of natural causes. He had served his nation since WW2 and never fully retired until his death. With the super-soldier serum, he had strength, speed, agility, and endurance far beyond even the best of the United Kingdom Special Forces. He was laid to rest next to his wife. The funeral was a small affair with only elite special forces personnel who knew his secret identity. Manchester Black was one of those men. He wore a black trenchcoat that covered his UK flag t-shirt that he wore faithfully every day. After the funeral, Manchester noticed a stranger among the group.
"I don't think I've ever seen you before, mate," Manchester said to him.
"I'm Jeremiah Danvers, American," he introduced himself.
Manchester gave him an odd look not recognizing the name. "Were you a mate of Sid?"
"No, we fought on opposing sides. I was trying to assassinate aliens and those who harbored them. He protected them," Jeremiah said vaguely.
"Who the fuck are you, really?" Manchester asked.
"They called me the Winter Soldier," Jeremiah replied and then revealed his metal right arm.
Elite and the Winter Soldier
Episode 1
Manchester flew about Tunisia's airspace after a military plane that had been hijacked by Russian special forces. He wore metallic wings that acted as a glider and shield. To fly, the glider was fitted with a small fusion reactor that allowed him to fly at near supersonic speed without limit. Additionally, the glider had a detachable drone that was armed with a laser system. On the ground were British special forces that happened to be in the area.
"I have eyes on the plane," Manchester reported to them.
Manchester overtook the plane and looked into the cockpit where he found the pilot dead. "They've already hijacked the plane."
The Russian pilot suddenly noticed Manchester out the window and alerted the others. Manchester retreated back and scanned the plane with his X-ray vision goggles. "Nightwing, engage," Manchester ordered his drone.
The drone detached from his glider and fired a laser into the plane's door. Once the door flew off, Manchester entered the plane and promptly kicked ass on a squad of Russian special forces. He kicked one out of the plane to his death and deflected bullets from another with his glider. The deflected bullets killed the Russian pilot in the front causing the plane to free fall. Realizing they were dealing with a bad-ass, the Russian special forces took hold of their British captain hostage and glided out of the plane. Manchester pursued them with his glider.
Even in the air, the Russians fired on Manchester. With careful maneuvers, Manchester chased after them through a narrow canyon. Two Mi-24 Russian attack helicopters engaged Manchester with machinegun fire inside the canyon from behind. Manchester engaged his nightwing to counterattack. The drone fired missiles at the helicopter's engines causing it to spin out of control and hit the side of the canyon in an explosion. Manchester went around the second helicopter, roped around the gunner, and then dropped him to his death in the canyon. Meanwhile, his drone fired a laser at the helicopter's engines causing it to go down.
At this point, the Russian special forces glided into a third helicopter to make their escape into Libyan airspace. Manchester entered the helicopter from the other side surprising them. "Sup?" he smiled insanely at them.
Manchester punched one of them out of the helicopter but then the British captain hostage was glided out. Manchester followed after him, throwing a grenade onto the helicopter's hull, as he did. The grenade exploded blasting the helicopter to pieces in a fireball. "You're about to fly into Libyan airspace," the ground unit informed him.
"Like I give a shit," Manchester said dismissively as he kept flying towards his target.
The Russian special forces op and the British captain glided into a fourth helicopter. A fifth helicopter appeared out of nowhere and fired heat-seeking missiles. Manchester took evasive action inside the canyon and navigated the missiles back towards the fifth helicopter. The fifth helicopter was hit with its own missiles and exploded in the air. Manchester then went back to the fourth helicopter ignoring warnings of an incoming bogie.
Suddenly, red beams sliced off one of Manchester's wings. Manchester went into a spin, pulled his parachute to slow down his fall, and smashed into the canyon wall becoming severely injured. The fourth helicopter successfully escaped into Libyan airspace with their hostage. Red Daughter eyed the canyon looking for any signs of life and then glanced at the fourth helicopter. Manchester Black had managed to kill two dozen Russian service members and taken down four helicopters, a heavy price for just one hostage. Karina turned away from the canyon disappointed she couldn't have arrived earlier and then flew off to escort the fourth helicopter to base.
In Tunis, Tunisia, Manchester Black was a bit pissed off at his mission failure. The only thing that could help the situation was some British tea. His good friend "Hat" came to the table and poured him some tea. "I need a new glider like the one before," Manchester said.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to pull a glider out of a hat? It has to be in pieces and then it requires assembly," Hat complained.
"I don't give a shit. I need another one," Manchester insisted.
"So, what's got you mad?" Hat asked.
"I lost a hostage to the Russians. I don't know how it happened. Some bitch out of nowhere attacks me with laser eyes," Manchester said bitterly.
"Supergirl?" Hat wondered.
"Nah, it couldn't have been her," Manchester said flustered.
"Hey, Elites, you brought my wife back. Thank you," one man said appreciatively in Arabic.
"I don't recall asking you a God damn thing," Manchester told him off.
Hat translated a different message to the man in Arabic so he would go away. "Since when did you learn Arabic?" Manchester asked.
"Ever since I pulled Babel discs...out of my hat," Hat replied.
"Fuck you, man," Manchester said enviously.
Hat proceeded to pull out the most advanced smartphone yet designed out of his hat to take pictures with. "These Ruskies are trying to take advantage of the chaos. They're on message boards talking shit. A lot of people in intelligence think the Russians are going to make a move."
"Where? Ukraine, Armenia, Syria?" Manchester asked.
"Yes," Hat nodded.
"Well, we can't have that. Whatever advantages the Russians, put us at a disadvantage," Manchester said referring to the UK.
"The Russians say they just want a world without borders," Hat said.
"You believe that shit?" Manchester asked shaking his head dismayed.
Hat merely rolled his eyes. "You keep an eye on those mother-fuckers. They make a move, you let me know," Manchester ordered.
"I'll track the chatter. I do have to ask though. There's been a lot about Sid. Some say he's on a secret base on the moon," Hat said.
"He's dead. I was at the funeral. He isn't coming back," Manchester told him.
"So, where you off to?" Hat asked.
"London," Manchester said as he took off.
London, England
"Sid represented the best in all of us: courageous, righteous, hopeful. And he mastered the stoic pose. The world was forever changed because of him. We need new heroes. Heroes for the times we're in. Symbols mean nothing without the men and women that give them meaning. And this uniform...," Manchester choked up as he pointed to a display case of Captain Midland's shield.
"I don't think there's ever been a greater symbol. So, today we honor Sid's legacy, but we also look to the future. Thank you, Captain Midland," Manchester said sincerely. "Now, it's been talked about that I should be the next Captain Midland, to continue Brian's great legacy. I'm extremely flattered. I really am, but I am not worthy of it."
Manchester then walked off stage subdued and feeling defeated. Blade pulled him aside into the museum's exhibits on Britain's greatest heroes. "You need to take up Sid's mantel: represent."
"I'm not immortal like you are, man. I'm tired, old, and a has-been," Manchester said to him.
"Pussy," Blade scolded and then walked away.
Manchester frowned as he eyed all the remarkable things Captain Britain, Captain Midland, and Pete Wisdom had done. He looked upon the shield one last time and then walked away.
Flashback-Somewhere
Several years ago, Jeremiah, as the Winter Soldier, hunted down aliens disguised as humans. In an extravagant hotel, he ambushed a group of them that had assembled for a meeting by bursting through the walls. He sliced one up with knives, grabbed one by the throat with his robot arm, and then slit his throat. The aliens fired pistols at him that hit his metal arm and bulletproof vest. Jeremiah fired his submachine gun at them dropping a few of them. He leaped off the second floor onto the stairwell and shot to death a few more with his pistol. He then grabbed the last one by the throat. The alien's human skin tore off revealing a reptilian creature. As the alien was strangled, his tongue flapped out. Jeremiah waited patiently for the alien to expire and then noticed a human witness, some Asian nerd.
"I didn't see anything," he said as he struggled to open the door to his room with his key.
Jeremiah advanced on the man and then shot him in the head.
End Flashback
Midvale, USA
Jeremiah stared blankly during his shrink session. "You still having nightmares?" Dr. Wong asked. Jeremiah didn't respond. "Jeremiah, I asked you a question," she said impatiently.
"No," Jeremiah said finally.
"Oh really? What changed?" Dr. Wong asked.
"My daughter kissed away my memories. She now has them. She now has to live with everything I did as the Winter Soldier," Jeremiah said.
"And how does that make you feel?" Dr. Wong asked.
"Shitty," Jeremiah admitted. "It's not right for a man to burden his daughter with his sins."
"You still subscribe to the patriarchal concept of bearing the family's burdens and protecting the females of your family?" Dr. Wong assumed.
"That's right," Jeremiah nodded.
"So, why are you here then?" Dr. Wong asked curiously.
"I don't remember what I did but the urge to...kill is still there. I'm still a hunter like before," Jeremiah said.
"And whom do you hunt these days?" Dr. Wong asked casually.
"Former Cadmus agents mostly. Just the other day, I put a bomb under Lillian Luthor's secretary and blew her up. I made sure she knew it was me that did it," Jeremiah said.
"Why do you feel you need to do these missions alone? You have two very resourceful daughters that would eagerly help you if all you did was ask," Dr. Wong said.
"I don't want them involved in my work to amend for what I've done," Jeremiah refused. "I can't put them in danger like that."
"They'll put themselves in danger some other way," Dr. Wong pointed out.
"Kara doesn't need me and Alex and I don't meet eye-to-eye," Jeremiah deflected.
"Give me your phone," Dr. Wong ordered.
Jeremiah reluctantly handed it over. "You haven't called Alex in months," Dr. Wong noticed.
"She visits...sometimes," Jeremiah frowned.
"You have to get yourself some friends and nurture your relationship with your daughter. This call history...is sad," Dr. Wong told him. "You're old as fuck, your family barely knows you, and you're alone."
"Look, I'm trying. Being friendly and fatherly is...new to me," Jeremiah admitted.
"You were Alex's father for fifteen years before you went off on that fateful mission," Dr. Wong reminded him.
"It feels like a blank," Jeremiah said.
"What is it that you want?" Dr. Wong asked.
"Peace," Jeremiah said simply.
"That's bullshit. What you really want is to be part of a military unit where you can experience comradery and friendship as you kill bad guys. Being alone in quiet retirement is being in hell for you," Dr. Wong told him.
"You're right. It's the only thing that makes me feel free," Jeremiah admitted.
"So, what else is on your mind?" Dr. Wong asked.
"So, Alex is still...," Jeremiah began.
Zurich, Switzerland
Hat was minding his own business one particular evening when he countered a squad of Russian special forces wearing masks. He immediately went for his hat as soon as he realized the ambush. Alina reached out with her hand and paralyzed his body. The Russian squad took his hat away from him and proceeded to beat the shit out of him. Alina examined the hat as Hat was being beaten. "We go now," she said to her squad and then took off into the night taking the hat with her. Once Alina was out of range, Hat was able to move again.
London, England
A confident Manchester and Fiona Black sat across from a white banker who was giving them condescending smiles. "Do I know you from somewhere? Did you play football?" the banker asked Manchester.
"I don't know. Do you?" Manchester teased.
"But seriously, how do you make a living, Mr. Black?" the banker asked. "Your financials are all over the place. Do you even get paid?"
"Well, I get paid in gold and cocaine. They're not exactly liquid," Manchester admitted.
"You have no income over the last five years," the banker pointed out.
"I have government contracts...that are classified," Manchester said lamely.
"Is this because we're black?" Fiona suddenly blurted out.
"Oh, shit!" Manchester realized.
"Of course not. Well...a little," the banker admitted.
"God damn," Manchester smiled amused.
"There are many other banks in London you can go to. You can go online and banks will compete for your business. But we can't be seen doing business with a Black," the banker said flatly.
"Are you serious? This is some racist shit," Fiona said outraged.
"You misunderstand. It has nothing to do with your race or skin color. It's because of the Black family reputation," the banker tried to clarify.
"Wait...what?" Fiona wondered.
"It's not because of our race, it's because of my last name. My last name is Black," Manchester explained to her.
"Exactly," the banker nodded.
"Well...," Fiona stammered. "Fuck you, Mr. White."
Manchester went back to his apartment and called up Hat. "Hey, I need you to whip out some cash out of your hat. We just got denied a house loan."
"No can do. I got ambushed and they took my hat," Hat said.
"The fuck? Who has it?" Manchester asked alarmed.
"The Ruskies got to me," Hat admitted.
"So, now the Russians have a hat with fifth-dimensional powers," Manchester said throwing up his hands.
"They don't know how to use it. It's useless to them," Hat assured him.
"Well, now, you're useless to me," Manchester said peeved.
"Hey, I put up a courageous fight," Hat said defensively.
"Yeah, bullshit," Manchester doubted.
"There was this woman that paralyzed me. I couldn't move a muscle and I felt my eyes bulging," Hat said.
"Alina," Manchester realized.
"Who?" Hat wondered.
"Just keep this between you and me," Manchester said disappointedly and then eyed the TV. "I'll call you back," he said as he noticed the news.
"Join me in welcoming your new Captain Midland," the British Prime Minister introduced.
Manchester stared at the screen as he saw a young man wearing Captain Midland's uniform and his shield. He waved to the crowd and gave a wink to the camera. "Those mother-fuckers," Manchester shook his head dismayed.
Episode 2
Soon thereafter, Manchester was at an airforce base ready to go on another mission. Manchester gave a new Captain Midland poster a hard look as he entered. Hat also came by with some bruises on his face. "He seems like a good guy," Hat said.
"I don't recall asking you a God damn thing!" Manchester exploded on him.
"Alright, alright," Hat backed off.
"My flight to Munich good to go?" Manchester asked.
"Everything's checked off the list," Hat assured him.
"You know, having to fly instead of instant teleportation pisses me off," Manchester said annoyed.
"I'll find a way to get back my hat," Hat promised.
"You better," Manchester said giving him the crazy eye.
Manchester then saw Jeremiah approaching him. "Son-of-a-bitch!" Jeremiah said as he clasped hands with Manchester. The two arm-wrestled for a few seconds until Jeremiah's robot arm forced Manchester into submission.
"Glad to see you, too, Danvers," Manchester winced as he was released.
"What's the matter, Black? MI6 have you pushing too many pencils?" Jeremiah chided.
"Fuck you. I'd beat your ass if I had a robot arm just like yours," Manchester said enviously.
"You shouldn't have given up the shield," Jeremiah said knowingly.
"Is that why you're here, Yankee? To tell me who should and who shouldn't be Captain Midland?" Manchester asked unimpressed.
"Don't tell me you didn't know this was going to happen," Jeremiah said condescendingly.
"You know, for a moment there, yeah, I didn't. I thought the government would have given Sid the dignity of never replacing him but fuck me, right?" Manchester said wide-eyed.
"This isn't what Sid would have wanted," Jeremiah said knowingly.
"Sid was one crazy mother-fucker. Who knows what he would have wanted," Manchester said dismissively.
"What's the real reason why you didn't ask to be Captain Midland?" Jeremiah asked.
"I'm the most patriotic subject of Her Majesty that has ever existed, but Britain isn't ready for a black man to be Captain Midland. I got English that want to beat my ass for my skin color and I have Africans from former colonies calling me a race traitor. I don't need that noise. I like being behind the scenes as an Elite," Manchester admitted.
"Well, okay then," Jeremiah allowed.
"Great reunion. I'll catch you for tea sometime," Manchester said as he went towards the military plane.
"I'm coming with you," Jeremiah informed him.
"Who the fuck cleared you?" Manchester demanded.
"My sources tell me you got your ass kicked in Tunisia. You shouldn't be doing this kind of work on your own," Jeremiah told him.
"Alright, I have a source in Munich that's told me Russian special forces are operating there. I'm going to check it out," Manchester told him
"Is that all?" Jeremiah wondered.
"No, one of them can control water, apparently," Manchester added.
Jeremiah realized instantly who that was. "Without me, you're fucked."
"It's not that big a deal. It's not like she's magical or some shit," Manchester said dismissively.
"Her name is Alina, the sub-director of PATRIOT. She can control water and be water. She can appear as anyone. The only edge we have against her is this metal arm," Jeremiah said seriously. "So, I'm coming."
Munich, Germany
On the military plane, Manchester and Jeremiah simply stared across from one another until they got to Munich. "Enjoy your ride home, Jerry," Manchester said as he was about to glide out.
"You can't call me that," Jeremiah protested.
Manchester glided out of the plane. Jeremiah followed him out the door. "No parachute?" he figured.
"Too low for it," Hat told him.
"Fuck it," Jeremiah said as he leaped out of the plane. With his robot arm, he grabbed onto tree branches to slow himself down until he eventually hit the ground. Jeremiah and Manchester met up in an abandoned building where Russian special forces were loading up weapons and supplies on cargo trucks.
"I think they're smuggling weapons, bro," Manchester said as he used his drone to scope the place.
"Well...no shit," Jeremiah said unimpressed. "I see a clear path. I say we take it."
"We're not assassins," Manchester told him off with a serious gaze.
The two gave each other long looks. "Hey, I was just messing," Manchester backed off finally.
"I'll see you inside," Jeremiah said taking off.
"Wait, we should probably plan this," Manchester said.
"I have a robot arm. I can take them," Jeremiah said confidently.
"And I can fly. Who gives a shit?" Manchester rebuked.
"It's just two people," Jeremiah said dismissively.
"Oh really? I see five," Manchester said with his glider's vision.
"It doesn't matter," Jeremiah said defensively.
"Look how strong they are," Manchester said as two of them picked up a heavy crate.
"Alright, let's move," Jeremiah said eagerly.
"Wait," Manchester said as he played around with his drone.
"They're getting away," Jeremiah pointed out.
"They've got a sixth person, maybe a hostage," Manchester pointed out. "A little girl, I think."
Jeremiah was instantly triggered and ran towards the truck while Manchester flew out on his glider. Jeremiah took hold of the truck doors and opened them with his metal arm. He then looked around noticing crates of medicine and vaccines. The hostage then came into view. "Wow, they didn't even handcuff you or gag you. That is terrible work," Jeremiah remarked.
"I know, right?" the girl said.
"You okay?" Jeremiah asked her.
The girl merely smiled and then suddenly Jeremiah was thrown out of the truck where he smacked into the windshield of the cargo truck behind them. The girl morphed into Alina and gave Jeremiah a smirk. "Shit!" Jeremiah realized.
Two Russian special forces took hold of Jeremiah and placed him on the roof of the cargo truck. As the two Russians kept Jeremiah down, Alina leaped onto the roof of the cargo truck to join them. Manchester's glider fired on Alina with its machine gun. The bullets merely went right through her. Inexplicably, Manchester piloted the drone too close to Alina. She grabbed the drone out of the air and split it in half on her leg.
Manchester then came in and kicked Alina. His foot went through her midsection. "The fuck?" Manchester wondered. At this point, the two cargo trucks were conveniently driving very close to one another on the highway.
"Nice of you to join the fight, Black," Jeremiah rolled his eyes.
The Russian special forces kept Jeremiah down while Alina and Manchester engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Alina cast Manchester onto the second truck and then locked up his limbs so he couldn't move. A shield suddenly sliced Alina in half at the midsection. The new Captain Midland dropped down onto the cargo truck from a helicopter and retrieved his shield. Captain Midland freed Jeremiah as he hit the two Russian special forces with his shield.
"Hey, I'm John Wanker. I'm the new Captain Midland," he introduced himself to them. "Looks like you guys could use some help."
The six of them proceeded to fight on the cargo trucks nearly falling to the street below. Jeremiah sliced into the truck's side with his arm as he fell and ended up underneath the truck. Manchester flew up just before he was to be hit by a highway sign. Alina simply let the sign hit her and then reformed herself. She extended her hand and cast Manchester off the truck. Immediately, Manchester glided away. John fired his pistol at Alina but the bullets merely went through her water body. John smirked as one of those bullets ended up hitting a Russian behind her. Alina glared at John's smirk and cast him off the edge of the truck.
Manchester swooped in and grabbed Jeremiah under the truck. The two tumbled in a field before coming to a stop. John got back onto the roof of the truck and faced off with Alina. "That was a bad idea," he told her.
John went for a punch that went right through Alina's head. Her head became a hand that kept a solid grip on him. Her new head formed from her shoulder. Alina then threw John off the truck where he hit the windshield of a car behind them. The two cargo trucks kept going as they escaped. Alina eyed the new Captain Midland with interest and then turned to her men.
"It's not bad," one of them said referring to being shot in the leg.
"Forgive me, comrade," Alina told him as she restricted blood flow to the injured leg.
"We should have just killed them," the other Russian said.
"We have rules, comrade. We can beat the shit out of them but no killing," Alina said. "Otherwise, they would have exploded in fountains of blood the moment I laid eyes upon them."
A disgruntled Manchester and Jeremiah walked the highway on their way back to the airport. "Sorry about nightwing," Jeremiah said with false sincerity.
"No, you're not," Manchester scoffed. "What you really thinking about?"
"I'm still computing it," Jeremiah said.
"I can see it, the gears turning. How do we defeat a bitch that can literally turn into water? What are the Ruskies up to?" Manchester said.
Jeremiah simply stared ahead not wanting to reveal that Alina was his adopted daughter's clone sister's best friend and superior. A jeep came upon them as they walked. "Well, that got fucked sidewise," John said to them from the back of the jeep.
Manchester and Jeremiah ignored him. "Well, at least we know what we're up against, right?" John continued.
"Russian metahumans," Manchester said obviously.
"Well...shit. That means we need to work together," John suggested.
"Piss off, white boy," Manchester told him off.
"I think we stand a better chance if we all just...," John said reasonably.
"Just because you wear his uniform and his shield doesn't make you Captain Midland," Manchester said scornfully.
"Look, I've done the work. I received three Victoria Crosses from Her Majesty," John said defensively. (A Victoria Cross is the highest British medal one can receive)
"Not impressed," Manchester said dismissively.
"You ever throw yourself on a grenade?" Jeremiah asked rhetorically.
"Actually, I have, four times with my helmet," John replied.
Manchester and Jeremiah looked at each other wondering if this guy was for real. "Look, the airport is twenty kilometers away. You guys need a ride?" John offered.
"No, fuck off," Manchester declined.
"Well, okay then," John said taking off.
That night, Alina walked up to her safehouse in Munich. She went up to the gate and her body went through it. She twisted her wrist slightly so that her non-liquid pistol would get through. "You hungry?" a cafe owner asked her.
"I don't eat," Alina declined. "Feed my men."
"You're a bit of a legend," the cafe owner remarked of Alina.
"Is the room prepared?" Alina asked.
"Right this way," the cafe owner said showing a room filled with beds and computers. Immediately, a Russian agent went to work to scrub the event on the highway. "Done," he said to Alina.
"We can't stay here for long," Alina told her men. The men groaned at their lack of sleep and long hours of work. "I need to know you're committed," Alina said to them all.
The Russians stared at her fearfully. "To the end," they all said to her.
On the plane ride back to London, Manchester and Jeremiah stared off into space. "We need to take back the shield," Manchester said with a psychotic look in his eyes.
"You can't just go up to him, kick his ass, and take it," Jeremiah said obviously.
"The fuck I can't!" Manchester shouted wide-eyed.
"You'll be a fugitive. I know what that's like. I spent ten years being a fugitive, going from place to place. It's not fun," Jeremiah told him. "Besides, we have bigger problems than Wanker."
"I think I'm done. This is too much for us," Manchester said depressed.
"I know someone in London you should talk to," Jeremiah said.
London, England
Arriving in London, Manchester and Jeremiah casually walked around the hood and found an old house. "We're here to see Winston. He'll know what that means," Jeremiah said to the caretaker. The two were then allowed inside.
"Who is this guy?" Manchester asked confused.
Jeremiah came before Pete Wisdom, an old man. "Pete," Jeremiah addressed.
"Look at you," Pete said of Jeremiah's changed look.
"Manchester Black, this is Pete Wisdom," Jeremiah introduced. Pete Wisdom was a British superhero that was closely partnered with the likes of Captain Britain and Captain Midland during WW2. He had the ability to fly and throw red-hot knives of energy from his fingertips.
"The Pete Wisdom?" Manchester asked full of awe.
"We met in '11," Jeremiah said vaguely.
"If met, you mean I kicked your ass," Pete smiled. "We heard whispers you were on the island. Everyone we sent after you never came back. So, MI6 asked me to go deal with you. I took half that metal arm in Edinburgh, but I see Cadmus gave you a new one," he explained. "You come to kill me?"
"I'm out of that Cadmus business," Jeremiah assured him.
"You think you can wake up one day and decide what you're going to be after ten years of brainwashing?" Pete asked skeptically.
"I got better," Jeremiah said vaguely.
Pete sensed Jeremiah's mind. "Your memories are gone but the experience remains," he realized.
"The reason we're here is my boy needs a pep talk," Jeremiah said referring to Manchester.
"What's the problem now?" Pete asked curiously.
"The Russians are up to no good...again," Jeremiah told him.
"They've been up to no good since...forever," Pete said dismissively.
"It could start a world war," Jeremiah said grimly.
Pete nodded and then faced Manchester. "You know what they did when they found out I had magical powers? They enlisted me for thirty years, they took my blood, ran tests on me, and I took that personally. But I would do it all again to serve Her Majesty, this great land. So, until you've faced the horrors I have seen, lost as many comrades as I have, and fought for as long as I have, you don't have the luxury of throwing a wobbly."
"Yes, Sir," Manchester said stunned.
"Now, get the fuck out of my house," he ordered them both out.
Jeremiah and Manchester walked the streets. "So...how come you know where Pete lives and I don't? Who the fuck knows about this?" Manchester asked outraged.
"I don't know," Jeremiah said flatly.
"So, you're telling me, you, a Cadmus agent, knew about Pete Wisdom, but I didn't? What the fuck?" Manchester shouted.
Cops suddenly arrived on the scene having witnessed the argument. "Is there a problem here?" the cop asked.
"We're fine. We're just talking," Jeremiah said calmly.
"Can I see your ID?" the cops asked them.
"Piss off," Manchester told them off.
"Just calm down," the cop said to him.
"Am I breaking your concentration, officer?" Manchester mocked.
"We're just talking," Jeremiah told them.
"About what?" the officer asked.
"Theology, mother-fucker!" Manchester shouted and then advanced on the cops. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men," he said staring right at them. "Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you!"
The cops stared at them both. "Okay, you're under arrest," they said as they took them away.
At the jail, Manchester and Jeremiah were bailed out in short order. "Who bailed us out?" Manchester wondered.
"Manchester, nice to see you again," John said wearing his Captain Midland uniform. The officers and civilians in the jail made sure to get a photo of themselves with him, the new British celebrity.
"Shit," Manchester realized.
"You two are too much of an asset to be tied up. The free world needs you two," John said seriously.
"Fuck off, Wanker," Manchester said scornfully.
"I'll be outside," John said and then exited the jail.
Dr. Wong then approached them. "Damn it," Jeremiah realized.
"You missed our appointment, so I had to track you down and fly to London," Dr. Wong said peeved.
"Can we not do this right now?" Jeremiah asked embarrassed.
"If you decide to talk to me, you'll be forcing Captain Wanker to wait for you outside," Dr. Wong enticed.
"I'm in," Manchester eagerly agreed.
"So, who wants to go first?" Dr. Wong asked.
Neither one volunteered hoping to stall this out for as long as possible. "No volunteers? Okay, we're going to do a couples' exercise. Suppose you are sleeping and a miracle occurs. When you wake up, what would you like to see that would make your life better?" Dr. Wong asked.
"In my miracle, he would talk less," Jeremiah said.
"Exactly the same thing I was going to say," Manchester agreed.
"You leave me two with no choice. It's time for the soul-gazing exercise. Turn around, face each other, get close, and scissor each other. Knee-cap to crotch," Dr. Wong ordered.
The two reluctantly complied getting into position with their chairs. "Now look at each other in the eyes, get real close, and then kiss," Dr. Wong ordered.
"Fuck no," they both said together.
Fourth Wall Break
"It's what the fans want," Dr. Wong said.
"Fuck the fans. I was top dawg for two-thirds of a season and then written off like I was nothing so Lex Luthor could steal the show," Manchester said resentfully. "Nobody gave a fuck about me afterward. I was barely even mentioned. It was racist, I tell you."
"At least you got your own animated movie with Superman. What the fuck do I get? I got a few episodes in two seasons and then killed off by Eve Tesschmacher of all people off-screen. I got an entire episode where Alex bitched me out for not coming home because I was doing who knows what the fuck in Peru. No, I was killed off because I dared to have a contrary opinion to the rest of Hollywood," Jeremiah raged.
"You know what that means? It means you two need to make the best of the time you're given here on this adventure," Dr. Wong told them.
"That's fair," they both agreed.
End Fourth Wall Break
"Why did you give back the shield?" Jeremiah asked accusingly.
"Why are you all up in my grill over something that has nothing to do with you, Yankee?" Manchester asked.
"Sid trusted you with that shield and you just threw it away like it was nothing. Maybe, if Sid was wrong about you, maybe he was wrong about me," Jeremiah said sincerely.
"Fuck out of here. You didn't give a fuck about Sid's opinion. Look, I did what I thought was right. The shield didn't belong to me. It belonged to Her Majesty, and Her Majesty's government gave it to someone else. And as a proud Britain, I accept that judgment. I'll be damned if some Yankee going to tell me who should or shouldn't have the shield," Manchester said.
"Let's get back to work," Jeremiah relented.
"Yes, thank Doc for making it queer. I feel so much better. I'll see you outside," Manchester said and then struggled to get up. Manchester and Jeremiah awkwardly tried to untangle themselves as Dr. Wong smiled in amusement.
Manchester and Jeremiah exited the station and ignored John who was still waiting on them. "Well, I feel better," Manchester said sincerely.
"Gentlemen, glad to see you again. You made me wait an hour. Look, if we divide ourselves, we don't stand a chance. You guys know that," John said.
"So, what do you got?" Manchester asked rolling his eyes.
"Their leader's name is Major Alina Lanina. We've been targeting civilians helping her move from place to place. They keep showing up in displaced communities all over Eastern Europe. We think she's using medicine to bribe people," John said.
"Where is she now, Wanker?" Jeremiah asked impatiently.
"We don't know, Jeremy. But it's only a matter of time before she pops up," John said.
"Things are really intense, aren't they, Wanker?" Jeremiah questioned.
"Wanker's right. It's imperative that we find them and stop them, but we're more flexible with our moral code. So, it doesn't make sense for us to work with you," Manchester said.
"Fine, don't get in my way," John told them as they both walked off.
Bratislava, Slovakia
In the country only known for the movie Hostel, Russian special forces placed supplies on a propeller airplane to their next destination. Alina noticed a warning on her phone. "Let's move. People are on their way," she said to her men.
Several black government SUVs showed up to intercept them. Alina forced the water out of a wood telephone pole causing it to collapse in front of the convoy. "Freeze," the leader said to Alina.
She merely smirked at them as the Russian airplane took off. They then fired at her all at once. The bullets merely went through her body. One of them bravely tried to get through the sparking cables on the ground to get to her. Alina used her power to slam him down into the cables electrocuting him. She then threw him back to his side. Unable to shooter her or detain her with the electrical cables on the ground, the Slovakian military was stuck.
Alina merely walked off into the darkness, her plane already in the air.
Episode 3
Munich, Germany
The next morning, as Captain Midland, John Wanker, and a squad of German military raided a safehouse the Russians had used just a few days prior. "Sir, my name is John Wanker. You're hiding a dangerous criminal named Alina Lanina. Do you know her?" John asked the cafe owner.
"I have no idea where they are. You Brits have become brutes," the cafe owner said.
"Sounds like bullshit. We know she came through here. Now, where did she go?" John demanded.
The cafe owner spat in John's face. John proceeded to beat his ass. "Do you know who I am?"
"Yes, I do, and I don't care," the cafe owner said boldly.
"Well...shit," John realized.
Berlin, Germany
Manchester and Jeremiah visited a maximum-security prison looking for Lillian Luthor. "I'm going in alone," Jeremiah said to Manchester.
"Why?" Manchester asked.
"Because you're a Black. I know how she feels about your kind," Jeremiah said bluntly.
"Well, it's not like you two love each other," Manchester scoffed.
"We have a history together. Trust me. I got it," Jeremiah assured him.
"Then, why did I even come with you?" Manchester asked.
"For moral support," Jeremiah said obviously.
"Fuck your moral support," Manchester said scornfully.
Jeremiah walked away from him and entered the cell. Jeremiah then stared down at the woman that had taken his life and freedom away from him. The woman that had turned him into a brainwashed assassin before he was an American assassin. Lillian tried to use the Russian code on him to activate him. "Those days are over, bitch," Jeremiah told her.
"I know. I just wanted to see how the new you would react to the old worlds," Lillian smiled. "At least you were conscious during your imprisonment," she said bitterly.
"That time wasn't exactly a picnic," Jeremiah said dryly.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry. It was never personal. You were simply a means to a necessary end," Lillian said.
Jeremiah ignored her ideological rant. "The Russians are running around Eastern Europe giving people medicine and shelter. What are they up to?"
"You're assuming PATRIOT is involved in this? That's why you've come to me which means you're desperate. Luckily for you, I do know a few things about them. You help me, I help you," Lillian offered.
Manchester and Jeremiah hung out in a mechanic's shop as they waited to see if Lillian would actually get out. "Where are we, man?" Manchester asked looking around.
Lillian then entered the mechanic shop looking like a police guard. Manchester sighed and gave Jeremiah twenty Euros. "So, you've teamed up with a Black?" Lillian asked upon seeing him.
"You don't like it, we'll send your ass back to prison," Manchester told her off.
"I'm way too valuable for you to be talking to me like this," Lillian said arrogantly.
"You're here because I believe in the power of forgiveness. You're also the mother-in-law of the clone of my adopted daughter," Jeremiah said.
"The fuck?" Manchester wondered.
"And that makes you family," Jeremiah concluded.
"I suppose it does," Lillian allowed.
"Bitch, you don't make a move without our permission," Manchester said to her.
"That's fair," Lillian agreed.
Lillian led Manchester and Jeremiah to her private plane. "Welcome," her pilot said, grateful to see her free.
"Old friend," Lillian greeted.
The four of them entered the plane and took off. The pilot gave Lillian a glass of wine before going back to the cockpit. "You two have no idea what it's like to be in a cell. Oh, wait, yes, you do," Lillian mocked.
"How did you even get caught?" Jeremiah asked curiously.
"I had asylum in Russia for the last year, but I took trips every so often to visit Lex and Lena. On one such journey, I got caught," Lillian said.
"Where are we going?" Manchester asked.
"I'm sorry. I was just fascinated by this," Lillian said of Jeremiah's victim list.
Jeremiah quickly placed his metal hand on her throat. "Touch that and I'll kill you," he said taking it away from her.
"I'm sorry. I understand that list of names, people you've wronged as the Winter Soldier," Lillian said knowingly.
"Under your orders," Jeremiah said bitterly.
"What we did was a masterpiece, Jeremiah. Our vision captured the American experience of xenophobia, racism, and bigotry," Lillian said.
"You're out of line...but you're right," Manchester agreed.
"Like British history is any better? Fuck yourself," Jeremiah scoffed.
"Her Majesty, peace be upon her, Queen Victoria, brought truth and enlightenment to Africa. She was a hero," Manchester said defensively.
"So full of shit," Jeremiah shook his head. "You know who everybody agrees is a hero: Superman, the alien," he pointed out changing the subject.
"I like Superman," Manchester agreed.
"The danger with people like him, America's superheroes, is that we put them on pedestals. They become symbols, icons, and then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities destroyed, innocent people die, movements are formed, wars are fought," Lillian preached. "You remember that, right?" Lillian asked Jeremiah.
"What if our resident Kryptonians decide to breed? Do we really want a world in which Kryptonians rule over everything?" Lillian asked rhetorically.
"If not for you, Kara would just be a gossip columnist minding her own business. You brought the Supergirl out of her by taking me away," Jeremiah argued.
"Don't be so naive. She would have eventually come out. They all do," Lillian doubted.
"If I were there, I would have ordered her not to," Jeremiah said stubbornly.
"It's who she is, what she was born as," Lillian argued.
"Everyone has free agency on who they love and hate, who they have a family with, and who they kill. It's absolute," Jeremiah argued.
"Except in your case because you were brainwashed by me. She's just as brainwashed in the other direction," Lillian said.
"I'm sorry, are we still talking about the same person?" Manchester asked confused.
"That is why we need to go to Hong Kong," Lillian told them.
Hong Kong
After a long flight, Machester, Jeremiah, and Lillian walked a bridge headed towards Hong Kong at night. Jeremiah was dressed in a black uniform, Lillian was in her white pantsuit, and Manchester looked like a pimp with the purple suit he personally bought for himself. "You look like a pimp," Jeremiah said to him.
"Only an ignorant Yankee would assume a forward fashioned black man looks like a pimp," Manchester told him off.
"Your character is the Smiling Tiger," Lillian said showing Manchester a picture of an actual pimp. "No matter what happens, we must stay in character. Our lives depend on it. There is no margin for error."
The three entered a car and were escorted by a squad of motorcyclists. They went through the shady area of town and noticed people selling guns, drugs, prostitution, and gambling. "This is capitalism for you," Lillian mocked Jeremiah.
"You can ban certain industries and still have a capitalist society," he told her.
"And then you have an underground market," Lillian countered.
"That's where people like me come in," Jeremiah said dangerously.
The three entered a bar and immediately some noticed Jeremiah as the Winter Soldier. "I didn't know the Smiling Tiger was in town," the bartender said of Manchester. "The usual?"
"Fuck yeah," Manchester said having no idea what that would be.
The bartender proceeded to gut a snake, pour its juice into a drink, and then hand it over to Manchester. He drank it like a champ much to Lillian's disgust. "My friend doesn't like you," one man said to Lillian.
"I'm sorry he feels that way," Lillian said politely.
"I don't like you either. You better watch yourself," the man told her.
"We just want to talk to Shelby," Lillian said diplomatically.
The man went to attack Lillian when Jeremiah intervene. He crushed the man's hand and twisted his arm out of position. Jeremiah continued to beat down several fools with his robot arm and superior tactical skills. "Didn't take much to get him back into form," Lillian smiled adoring her handiwork.
Things began to escalate as several people cocked weapons. "Well done, soldier," Lillian said in Russian as Jeremiah slammed a fool onto the bar.
"Shelby will see you now," the bartender told her.
"Thank you," Lillian said pleased.
Lillian, Jeremiah, and Manchester were led to the second floor of the bar to meet with Shelby, a white-haired middle-aged lesbian. "You should know, Luthor. No one comes to my bar and makes demands," she scolded.
"Not a demand, an offer," Lillian said getting to business.
"I thought you were rotting away in a German prison," Shelby said confused.
"Prisons don't hold people like us for long," Lillian said vaguely.
"What's the offer?" Shelby asked.
"Tell us what PATRIOT is up to and I give you him, along with the codewords to control him, of course," Lillian said as she put her hands on Jeremiah's shoulders. "He will do anything you want," she said as she condescendingly rubbed Jeremiah's chin.
"That's the Lillian I remember. There is a PATRIOT agent here in Hong Kong. Her name is Dr. Valentina Vostok," Shelby revealed.
"Where can we find her?" Lillian asked.
"The bread crumbs are for free but the bakery is going to cost you. I'll lead you to her once I have the code words to your Winter Soldier," Shelby said.
Manchester's phone started to ring in the middle of these important shady underground negotiations. "Damn, I got to take this," he said and then put it on speaker due to the loud noise of the bar.
"Sup?" Manchester answered.
"We need to talk about this situation. It's been driving me nuts," Fiona began.
"This better be important," Manchester warned.
"Are you high?" Fiona asked incredulously.
"Bitch, I just might," Manchester replied.
"It's about the damn house. And watch your tone, asshole. I let you slide at the bank," Fiona said.
"Yeah, the bank, I laundered so much shit. Yeah, they'll come around," Manchester said playing along.
"If that was the case, why did they treat you like a bitch?" Fiona asked rhetorically.
"I got this. I'm going to kill that banker's white ass," Manchester said seriously.
"Man, I'm going to have to call you back," Fiona said as something came up and hang up.
"Man?" Shelby wondered.
"It's a common expression. Like, man...I feel like a woman," Manchester said defensively.
"Kill them," Shelby ordered.
A bullet immediately hit Shelby dropping her. Manchester and Jeremiah quickly disarmed an enforcer each and killed the rest. "What the fuck was that? Who keeps their phone on during an underground negotiation?" Lillian scolded Manchester.
"That was a noob move," Jeremiah agreed.
"Alright, my bad, my bad," Manchester admitted.
"Let's go," Lillian said urgently.
The three walked casually through Hong Kong streets until they were fired upon by bounty hunters. Manchester and Jeremiah fired back getting several kills and then regrouped in an alleyway. A man was about to shoot Jeremiah when he, himself, was shot dead. A woman emerged from the darkness. "Alex?" Jeremiah wondered.
"You cost me everything," Alex said pointing her pistol at Lillian.
"Alex, she gave us a lead," Jeremiah told her.
"A lead to what?" Alex asked impatiently.
"Shelby was going to lead us to a Russian scientist that is a member of PATRIOT. We need to know what the Russians are up to," Jeremiah told her.
"Fine," Alex relented pointing her pistol down.
"Why are you here?" Jeremiah asked her.
"As soon as Barney told me about your adventures in Europe, I went after you. Thankfully, I was there to save your ass from Shelby," Alex said referring to the shot that killed her.
"We could use her help," Manchester said.
"Fuck no," Jeremiah denied.
"Look, I have a place in High Town. Come with me," Alex offered.
At Alex's hotel, Manchester reluctantly changed out of his pimp suit. "I'm sorry I didn't call," Jeremiah apologized.
"Shove it. Do you know how it looks to me when I see you working with this bitch, again?" Alex asked referring to Lillian.
"Alex, you need to forgive," Jeremiah lectured.
"Yeah, I'll forgive as soon as I go straight," Alex said angrily.
Manchester's eyes suddenly lit up as he realized what that meant. "We have mutual interests to save the free world," Jeremiah said simply.
"Yeah, Alina Lanina is up to no good in Eastern Europe. It could be big," Manchester agreed.
"You two should steer clear of this for your own safety," Alex said worriedly.
"We know the risk, but we're not leaving until we know what PATRIOT is up to," Manchester said resolved.
"I'll give Barney a call. In the meantime, stay out of trouble," Alex said to them as she went to her room to cool off.
As soon as she closed the door, Manchester turned to Jeremiah. "Let's go clubbing."
The next day, Alex, Jeremiah, Manchester, and Lillian went to the docks looking for Dr. Vostok. Manchester and Jeremiah were visibly hungover, Alex looked perpetually pissed-off, and Lilliam smiled in amusement at the tension between them all. "She's here," Alex pointed out.
"You stay here and give us security," Jeremiah said to Alex. "We'll go inside."
"Because you'll know I'll shoot her ass if you leave me alone with her?" Alex questioned.
"Something like that," Jeremiah nodded.
Jeremiah, Manchester, and Lillian entered the shipping container and felt around. They discovered a door and went up some stairs. They then entered a well-lit lab and found Dr. Vostok. "Dr. Vostok?" Manchester asked.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" she asked alarmed.
Manchester took hold of her and put her in front of Lillian. "Is this the broad?"
"Excuse me, I am a doctor in nuclear physics, asshole," Dr. Vostok said offended.
Lillian nodded. "Start talking, Dr. Bitch," Manchester ordered.
"About what?" Dr. Vostok asked incredulously.
"What is PATRIOT planning?" Jeremiah demanded.
"They're just feeding and giving shelter to refugees from Ukraine," Dr. Vostok said.
"That sounds like bullshit," Jeremiah doubted.
"Look, I'll talk if somehow you survive my security detail when they come storming in," Dr. Vostok offered.
"Shit," Jeremiah realized.
Outside, Alex ambushed a squad of armed Russians. She beat them with a pipe knocking them unconscious before they could get a shot. She then encountered another one with a knife. The two fought over the knife, Alex took him to the ground, disarmed him, and then broke his arm in an armbar. She then threw the knife at the second Russian stabbing him in the arm. He took hold of Alex and slammed her against a shipping container. The Russian kicked at Alex missing each time. Alex tripped him up, took hold of his arm, and broke it. Alex proceeded to disarm another Russian of his rifle, stabbed him a few times, and used him as a human shield to block bullets from another Russian. Alex took cover dropping her dead human shield, stabbed another Russian, took his pistol, and shot him in the head. She then shot the last Russian in the head as he tried to sneak around the container edge.
Alex came in a little bruised and beat up. "We're seriously out of time," she said.
"Start talking," Jeremiah said pointing his pistol at Dr. Vostok's head.
"PATRIOT is involved in a spring invasion of Ukraine. They're working to weaken EU resolve, so they don't intervene in the invasion. That means creating splinter groups all over Europe. The Russian's are going to take everything east of the Dnieper River," Dr. Vostok revealed.
"We can't fight the entire Russian army," Manchester said obviously.
"No, but we can stop Alina. Where is she now?" Jeremiah asked Dr. Vostok.
"I don't know. She never stays in one place for long," Dr. Vostok shrugged.
Lillian suddenly shot Dr. Vostok in the head. "Shit!" Manchester said startled.
"PATRIOT can't know I'm helping you against them," Lillian said obviously as Alex restrained her.
An RPG from a Russian outside hit the lab creating an explosion that dropped everyone. The lab was immediately on fire. An Oxygen tank exploded destroying what was left of the lab. The four exited the ruined lab and looked for the RPG thrower. Instead, another squad of Russians started firing at them. The four of them fired back and started to run out of ammunition. Jeremiah and Manchester proceeded to argue with each other over the situation while being shot at. Lillian, for her part, caused a gas explosion killing two men and shot another three men to death.
"Damn," Manchester said impressed.
"Let's move," Jeremiah said to the other two.
They made their way through the maze of shipping containers and were shot at occasionally. Lillian came by with a car that happened to be stowed away in one of the containers. "Get in," she said as she came upon them.
"Don't pull that shit again without consulting us," Jeremiah told her as he got in.
"Was still badass for an old lady," Manchester complimented.
Alex was about to get in when Jeremiah stopped her. "Thank you for everything. Now, go back to the states," he ordered.
"You going with her instead of me?" Alex asked offended.
"Yes, because I don't give a fuck if she dies," Jeremiah said and then gestured for Lillian to drive off.
"This is bullshit," Alex said angrily as the three of them drove away.
Vilnius, Lithuania
At night, Alina supervised as her men raided a supply depot. They quickly tied up the men and took away all the food and resources they could find. Alina went over to the chief administrator who was giving her a dirty look.
"Filthy Ruskies," he said to her.
Alina made the blood pressure in his face increase slightly to give him a massive headache and pain in his sinuses. "We gave you people a chance to be part of an empire, to be something more than yourselves. Instead, you wanted independence, then you persecuted the ethnic Russians within your borders, and joined NATO."
"All you cared about was a coastline for your ships. You never gave a fuck about us," the administrator spat.
Alina stopped her torture of the man seeing his patriotic resolve. "I have seen Russian spheres of influence rise and fall over my long life. Eventually, you will come back to us whether you want to or not," she said confidently. She then turned to her men. "Evacuate the building, get everyone one," she ordered.
All of the prisoners were dragged out of the building and put together. The Russians took off in their vehicles leaving Alina behind. Once they were gone, Alina detonated the explosives gutting the building and destroying any supplies that had been left behind. The prisoners were stunned but still alive. Alina's body became clear and translucent from being too close to the explosion. Once the fires died down, she regained her original look and walked off.
On the plane ride back to Europe, Manchester was deep in thought. "Maybe I made a mistake," he said.
"Yeah, you did," Jeremiah agreed.
"Maybe I should have destroyed it," Manchester said referring to the shield.
"Look, that shield represents a lot of things to a lot of people. The world is upside down. It needs a Captain Midland and it can't be John Wanker," Jeremiah said obviously.
Manchester then got a phone call from Hat. "Okay, good work," he said and then hung up. "A supply depot in Lithuania just got bombed."
"It looks like we're headed to Riga," Lillian said and then directed her pilot to change course.
Author's Notes: In the first timeline, I gave Manchester Black the send-off he deserved in the Black Knight episode. In the second timeline, I made him a major part of Season 4.5 Now, in the third timeline, I'm giving him more to do. Manchester Black is one of my favorite CW characters in this series. I decided to give him this ultra-patriotic imperialist attitude you wouldn't expect to see from someone like him. Captain Britain, Captain Midland, Pete Wisdom, and any additional British superheroes come from Marvel.