Their first mission was over, but could not be called a complete success. Either Americop or members of the Serpent Society had captured every member of Team America (check out our last two issues - Michael).
Now, a member of their support crew had been abducted.
Jack Flag and the rest of Team America had reviewed videotape that Georgianna Castleberry had somehow managed to record moments before her abduction.
While Michael Keene, AKA Tumbler, drove the Team's mobile unit back to New York, and the rest of the Team recovered, Jack reviewed what he knew.
Jack was aware of Georgianna's failed marriage and her strong desire to distance herself from her estranged husband. Georgianna's connection to the original Team America had come up during her interview and subsequent background check with Jack for a position with the Hotline. Jack had questioned her at length and felt that her experience would be a valuable asset to the Hotline. He honored her wishes to move forward with her life, and not dwell on her marriage.
Jack had picked up clues from the video that Georgianna's captor was returning to New York, for whatever reason. Unfortunately, the time stamp on the video indicated that they got at least an hour head start.
Jack's prime candidate was Leonard Hebb, Georgianna's husband.
Jack was less certain about the motive. He had his thoughts, though.
RULE #12 - Never assume; it makes an ass out of u and me.
Jack hoped he would not regret the decision not to involve local law enforcement. He hoped the team's connection to Captain America and Jack's limited contacts at SHIELD would be enough to smooth things over, should it come to that.
Jack pounded his fist on the console. Team America was still working out the kinks but they had already been set up on their first mission. Hopefully, this would be their opportunity to redeem themselves and their confidence.
"Boss, you okay?" asked Griffin Gogol, alias Captain Ultra.
Despite being in no mood for Grif, Jack responded with a firm nod, hoping that Grif would get the message. No such luck.
"Listen, Priscilla and I were checking Georgianna's quarters for possible clues when we came across some costume designs she was working on, per your suggestion."
Jack sat silently, hoping Grif might get the idea that Jack wanted...no, needed to be left alone.
"We've still got a while before we get to New York. So if it's okay with you, we thought we might use the VR trainer to try some of them out. We thought it'd help us focus on our mission this time."
Jack smiled and nodded his okay.
RULE #13 - Never underestimate the power of friendship.
Ram Riddley gathered his friends together before they headed toward the subway. He had enlisted their help in tracking down the mysterious million-dollar benefactor of the Hotline, and subsequently Team America. Of course, he had done this, much to his mother's chagrin. In fact, she had no idea how far Ram was willing to take his investigation.
Ram knew how much pressure his mom was under while she ran the Hotline in Jack Flagg's absence. His investigation, therefore, served two purposes in his eyes; the first was to ease some of the strain on his mom and the other was to impress Jack with his abilities.
Of course, he played the whole thing down to his friends, basically as a type of grant research project, but they were still happy to help.
Cody, Hugh, Jennifer, David, and Hiram (Ram) had been the school outcasts. None of them really remembered how they all got together. Call it Fate. Call it Luck. But they were now the best of friends, inseparable at times.
As "payment" for their services, Ram had hooked the teenagers up with tickets and backstage passes to a concert in Central Park. The concert was a revival of 80's artists to benefit various teen shelters in the city. Artists like Blondie, Christopher Cross, Toni Basil, J. Geils Band, A-Ha, The Go-Go's, A-Ha, Samantha Fox, and Ruff Stuff were scheduled to perform.
Ram convinced the gang that it would be fun to listen to some of that old music. However, his motives were much different.
Ram had a strong hunch that the Hotline's new found fortune was linked to Roan Industries. Roan Industries was owned and operated by Winthrop Roan, Sr., whose son, Winthrop Roan, Jr., was also known as RU Reddy, lead singer for Ruff Stuff, and, remarkably enough, former member of the original Team America.
He hated to use his friends and not clue them in, but if he was right, things might get sticky and he'd need them to help him cover.
"Okay, gang, are we ready to rock and roll?"
"Fer sure," Jennifer replied in her best Valley Girl accent.
"Let's do it," shouted Cody.
"Yeah, buddy," David responded.
"Are you ready?" asked Hugh.
Ram simply grinned as he nodded, not letting the irony of Hugh's question
slip past him.
RULE #41 - Follow your hunches.
Holly watched from the window as her son Ram and his friends walked down the entrance to the subway. She knew the kids were capable of taking care of each other, but this was still New York and she was still a mother.
"But, Mom, Jennifer got tickets to see "The Lion King" only the hottest show on Broadway." Holly recalled Ram's rather impassioned plea. Against her better judgment, she agreed. After all, Ram had his cell phone should they run into trouble.
Holly and Ram were all each other had for so long that her heart ached at the prospect of him growing up. After HE left ("God, I still can't bring myself to say his name" Holly thought), she had managed to take care of Ram by herself. Ram's father had walked out on both of them shortly after Ram was born, occasionally visiting the boy when he was still an infant, before simply disappearing.
Ram had little memory of his father and Holly did not talk a lot about him for both of their sakes.
Suddenly, the pain shot through her head. The headaches had increased and she feared she knew why. But she had to hold out just a while longer, until Jack got back and she could talk with him.
She slowly made her way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, swallowed a couple of capsules from the medicine cabinet, and headed back to the couch.
"I'll lay down for a minute and then I'll be fine," Holly told herself.
RULE #25 - Look out for speed bumps.
"So how do I look?" asked Priscilla.
Gone were her red and white striped leotard, powder blue tank top, and red boots. She had loaded one of Georgianna's designs in the VR trainer and was impressed with the virtual results. She now wore a blue leotard and white blouse. The blouse was open to her waist, with a line of detachable silver stars running down both arms. Each star was designed so she could remove it, use it as a throwing star, or attach one of several small vials from her red belt for special uses. Her boots and gloves remained red, the boots were now seamless leather, rather than the lace-ups she had worn previously.
Priscilla liked the look that Georgianna drew up. Cilla felt more like a real "superhero" than she had since she first started her crime-fighting career with Nomad.
"Okay, you've got a potential new costume. You gonna' change your name, too?" asked Roberto, who had joined Cilla and Grif in the VR training room to try some of the possible costume changes.
"Actually, I have. And this outfit would be ideal. So, gentlemen, Vagabond is no more. I am now GALA."
"As in star-studded Gala?" asked Grif from behind the curtain he had programmed for privacy.
"Oh my God, am I starting to think like you?" Cilla asked jokingly.
"What do you think of my costume, Priscilla?"
Roberto Velasquez had made only slight modifications in his costume. The gray pants and shoulder pads were replaced with a deep blue that bordered on black. The yellow background of his jersey was now white. He kept the red boots, protective headgear and "rooster comb". The red bird emblem on his shirt now covered his entire chest. He did like the change in his gloves, which, with a hidden control, would switch from the fingered gloves he now wore to the padded boxing gloves he wore previously. His costume also included a "utility belt" of sorts, although Roberto was not into gadgetry at all.
"You look great, 'Berto!"
From behind his curtain, Grif had to remind Roberto of his suggestion.
"I still say you go with an all gold costume and change your name to Rooster Gold."
"I still don't get it, Griffin. And I'm not changing my name! Bantam describes me perfectly. Now come on, we want to see how you look."
Pulling back the curtain with great flourish, Captain Ultra stood before his teammates a changed man. Gone was the multi-colored gaudiness that was his costume for so long.
The same general style was present, but he now had a white short-sleeve top with blue trunks, pants, and boots. His cape was shorter, a brighter blue than the rest of his costume. His mask now covered only his eyes, nose and ears, revealing Grif's thick brown hair. His gloves were red as were the stripes running down the sides of his legs.
Poised in front of his teammates, with his hands on his hips and, somehow, his cape billowing behind him, Griffin Gogol looked, well, like a true, American hero.
"I'm truly impressed, Grif. Georgianna did a fantastic job."
"Thanks, Gala."
"What about your name?" asked Roberto.
"That I have been thinking about. How about Captain ID?"
"Like identification? Or ID as in ego and superego?" asked American Eagle, who had "appeared" in the VR trainer.
"No, like independence, but good point, Jason. The Libertine?"
The group shook their heads.
"Mr. America? Freedom King? Superstar? Ameriman? Major Victory?"
"Why don't you work on it, Grif?
RULE #9 - Leave your options open.
Hours later, as TARA parks in front of the Hotline headquarters, Jack quickly bounds from the vehicle. He had been trying to get in touch with Holly for hours. She wasn't at the office and there was no answer at her apartment, and Ram wouldn't answer his cell phone. He instructed the rest of Team America to renew their search for Georgianna, while he sprinted the few blocks to Holly's apartment.
He used the passkey that Holly had given him weeks ago and entered the apartment. He saw Holly lying on the couch, her breathing irregular. Panic spread through his body.
"Holly! Honey, please open your eyes and look at me! Holly!"
He grabs the phone to dial 911 as Holly's eyes flicker open and she grasps Jack Flagg's hand.
"Jack, if anything.........should hap......happen to me.........Hiram......take care of him........."
"Holly! Holly!"
RULE #44 - In times of emergency, don't panic.
At that same time, at the concert in Central Park, Hiram Riddley and his friends were enjoying the "oldies" music and the thrill of being backstage. Ram maintained his façade of carefree teenager while scanning the hectic surroundings for the subject of all of his subterfuge.
Then it happened. Ram spots former rock star RU Reddy. Their eyes lock and the color drains from Reddy's face, for as the auburn-haired young man approaches, Winthrop Roan, Jr. recognizes the boy, despite the years.
"Mr. Reddy, my name is..."
"Your name is Hiram Riddley. Your mother is Holly."
"How did you...?"
"Because.........because I'm your father!"
RULE #3 - Expect the unexpected!
NEXT ISSUE: The search for Georgianna continues with some help from some old friends, as the ties between the old and new Teams America are discovered. A family is reunited in the midst of great crises and Ram is caught in the middle. And perhaps a first for the MV1, you, the readers, will decide whether or not Captain Ultra gets a new name and what it should be!! Send me your suggestions!!
QUICK COMMENTS FROM MICHAEL: Thanks to all of you who have supported my efforts on Team America. A hectic work schedule has not allowed me to devote the time to writing that I would like, but I've grown quite fond of most of the team, while getting to know some of the others better. I realize the cast is kind of large and I will be whittling it down and rotating some of them in and out, so bear with me. I'll eventually get there.
Why the "Rename Captain Ultra" contest?
Well, brain drain is clouding my ability to make a decision. In fact,
as I write this, I'm none too clear about changing Vagabond to Gala.
I have reasons for keeping Bantam and Tumbler's names (in fact, my plans
for Tumbler haven't even started). So, Griffin Gogol's future is
in your hands, dear readers. No 800 numbers to call and no possibility
of death (RIP Jason Todd).
Send comments, suggestions, and feedback to mstewart@cennet.mc.peachnet.edu.