I let out a heavy breath as I stepped out of the home of the Parkers. It had gone horribly. And that was putting it lightly. Uncle Ben was having none of it. All of the stories and promises in the world didn't change the fact that their grandson was missing, and it was because he was working for me.
I would've smoked if I could stand the smell or taste of it. And I wasn't much in the mood for talking to anyone about anything at that moment. So I teleported straight into space and left a message with Jean before I shot off with the All-Black. It was time to bury the weapon and install the necessary protections.
On my way to the fifth-closest black hole from Earth, I had my Orbs running in the background. We were putting our heads together, working on a set of uber-efficient stealth runes that would allow me to hide from all sorts of detection technology and magic.
Thanks to my earlier attempts, I had the right combinations of affinities—Space, Dimension, Time, Light, and Darkness. All I needed was time.
Luke Cage's POV
"I know the Angel and his team saved New York from yet another attack," the blond-haired, smarmy conservative media head said, "but I can't help but think he's connected to them somehow. Or, at the very least, knows more than he's saying. I mean, take a look at his records. He was a mercenary—a murderer for hire—what makes you think more power made him better?"
"The fact that we're still alive?" the well-dressed man seated across from him guffawed in outrage. "You seem really comfortable in your seat, Brian. Twenty-four hours ago, this entire block was burned beyond recognition."
"You don't get credit for fixing a problem you caused, Kal," Brian pushed back.
"Who said he's responsible in the first place?" Kal shot back. "All you've got is speculation and bigotry."
Brian scoffed. "Bigotr—"
"And that's enough out of those white boys," Doc said, shaking his head. "Some people. They see miracles fall from on high and bellyache that it's not the type they're looking for."
A few customers hummed in agreement while Corey, the businessman and resident skeptic, pushed back. Doc had clippers in his hand, squinting through his thick glasses as he worked off mostly muscle memory rather than actual sight.
"Brian Calhoun talks out of his ass 90% of the time he's on that panel, but at least he's asking questions," he said. "How did the kid get so powerful so quickly? What even is he? And why are demons trying to wipe New York off the face of the planet every five minutes?"
"Ain't it obvious?" CJ asked, all serious before he broke off into a grin. "They jealous of us, that's why. We're the best city in the world. Of course they don't like us."
That got everybody chuckling, including Corey. I kept working, sweeping away clumps of hair from an empty station, scooping them up with a pan, and emptying them into the bin.
"Look, all I'm saying is, we got a hell of a lot more questions than answers. And with those mutants running around on the news, it's kind of hard not to feel exposed. I mean, damn, Doc, you lost your shop."
"And got it back," Doc insisted.
"Mark's gone," Corey said, and the store went quiet. My hand tightened around the broomstick, almost snapping it.
He was one of the Changed I had to put down. If it weren't for her, I would've had to hurt a whole lot more people. But the death count was still too high. And I contributed to a lot of it.
"Doc?" I called out. "Mind if I take my break?"
He nodded at me without looking. "Don't go too far."
Somebody greeted me, but I didn't respond. As I walked through the doors, I heard him muttering something about me being rude.
I didn't mean to be. It was just harder being present after everything. I made it two streets over, bought myself some coffee, and found a quiet place to sit and enjoy a half hour of peace and quiet.
"Rough day?" a voice called out as someone approached the bench I sat on. I looked up and was stunned by who I saw.
Jean Grey...in the flesh.
I froze for a moment, debating what to say and how to react, before finally deciding on complete honesty. If what they said about her was true, there was no point hiding anything anyway.
"That tends to happen when the sky falls down on your head, and you're left to pick up the pieces."
"We got here as soon as we could," she said with a wince. She also had a cup of coffee in her hand. She thumbed the lid.
"It was fifteen minutes of absolute hell."
"We would've brought them back if we could...all of them." She looked at me, and I saw the pain in her clear blue eyes. I had a feeling the attack hit her as hard as any of us. Maybe even harder.
"You lost people?" I asked, and she nodded.
"I'd give just about anything to get them back..." she said.
"What exactly happened out there?" I asked after a short beat. "I've seen the news, but I know that's not the full story. Demons, mutants, and whatever that guy Dante is. There's a big piece we're all missing. And I'd like to know it before the thing happens."
"I have the answers you're looking for, Mr. Cage," she said. "But so does the government. After your little display, they'll be looking to recruit you as well. I'll tell you right now, your life would be a lot easier working for them."
"But I won't get the whole truth, will I?" I asked.
She shook her head. "SHIELD is very hush-hush and big on secrecy. We don't care as much."
"When do we start?" I asked immediately.
She smiled, handing me an address and an envelope filled with cash.
"Get your things in order and meet me there in forty-eight hours."
It was an address in Brooklyn.
By the time I looked up, she was gone.
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