Chapter 84: Background Action IV

A/N: The winner of yesterday contest was Juhiko.

Which again was close. But if you guys don't want that to be the case then vote more.

Now then today insert a GIF of Laura Kinney/X-23 Here.

-----------------------------

(3rd Person: POV)

Quickly opening his eyes, Remy Le Beau quickly looked around.

[Insert Image of Remy LeBeau/Gambit Here]

Since the last thing he remembers was that he was simply enjoying a stroll down the street, before suddenly everything went black.

Now here he is.

Inside of a windowless room, restrained to a chair, with a collar around his neck.

While in front of him are a black man,who is also seated in a chair, and two robots.

The man and robots Remy immediately recognized upon laying his eyes upon them.

For they were part of the group that for almost the past two years now had been systemically destroying his employer, Mister Sinister, bases all across the world.

As well as dismantling all of his operations in general.

Now it looks like they had caught up with him.

'Well, looks like this the end of the road for me.' Remy thought.

"Good, you're finally awake." The black man spoke. "Now then, let's get down to business. Since I have vastly more important things to do today than deal with a thief like you." He spoke.

"Hey now, why you tryin to hurt Gambit feelin's?" Remy asked. Putting a smirk on his face.

"My name is Zod."

Only for Zod fo completely ignore his comment.

"And quite frankly if my liege didn't have an interest in you you would be dead right now. But he does, so you are not. Be thankful for that." Zod spoke.

"So your boss is interested in me? Why?" Remy asked.

"For some reason he thinks you can be more than a simple scoundrel and thief." Zod explained. "Which is why from now on you will be working for us."

"Oh? And just who are you all?" Remy asked.

When he did Zod smirked. "The ones who will make your former employer, Mister Sinister, fall into the deepest pits of despair." He explained.

Remy swallowing a lump in his throat as he heard this.

For he could tell Zod wasn't lying.

"Understood." Remy replied.

"Excellent." Zod replied. "Well then good day. A few people will be in here in a few minutes to take care of you. Good luck." He said.

Zod then stood up from his chair and walked over to the door of the room. But just before he opened it he turned back to look at Remy on last time. "Oh and more thing Remy. If you even take a single step towards betraying us, I'll make you beg for the sweet release of that but make sure it never comes to you." Zod spoke.

His eyes glowing red after he did.

But only lasted for a second before the glow stopped and Zod left the room.

Leaving Remy wondering exactly what he had just got himself caught up in.

--------------------------

[Harlem, New York City, New York, United States of America]

As the SUV she was in came to a stop, Jessica exited it.

One of the Spartan bodyguards Victor had assigned to her getting out right behind her.

Meanwhile the other parked the SUV and then joined them.

Once this happened the three of them entered through the doors of the establishment before them.

A bar.

After doing this the group of three picked a table and had a seat.

Waiting for the person they had come to the bar to speak to today to make an appearance.

Which they did, a minute after Jessica and her bodyguard took their seats.

Walking out of the back room, a case of foreign beer on his right shoulder, came the owner of the bar who Jessica had come to speak with.

A 6'6" tall African-American, whose frame was padded with muscles.

Whose original name was Carl Lucas.

But due to certain circumstances he had to change it, so at the moment he goes by another.

Luke Cage.

[Insert Image of Luke Cage/Powerman Here]

Reaching the bars front counter Luke place the case of foreign beer stop it.

He then turned his attention to Jessica group.

"Morning. Can I help you?" Luke asked them.

Since although the bar was open he really didn't think Jessica and her people were here for a drink.

Then again he could be wrong.

"Yes, I believe you can." Jessica replied.

She then got up from her seat and walked over to the front counter. "You see I am looking for a certain man and I heard he practically lives in this bar. His name is Carl Lucas. Know where I can find him?"

"No, sorry I don't." Luke replied.

Working to keep a neutral expression on his face.

Meanwhile his fingertips were digging holes into the counter.

"Now Mr. Cage, we both know that's a lie." Jessica retorted. "Seeing as you can Carl Lucas are one in the same." She spoke.

Hearing this from Jessica Luke tensed his body, in preparation for a fight.

Despite this neither Spartan got up from their seat.

Nor did Jessica even flinch.

"No need to get so worked up Mr. Cage. My colleagues and I are not here today to fight you, nor drag you back to prison for the crimes you were framed for. We simply came to talk." Jessica explained.

"Talk?" Luke questioned. "Also, did you just say I was framed?"

"Of course. Since it's the truth." Jessica replied.

"How do you know that?" Luke asked. "No, for that matter why do you believe I was framed?"

"Because the evidence is all there, if you know where to look. Which my employer has done. Which is one of the many reasons he sent me here to speak with you." Jessica explained.

"Oh really, and who is your employer?" Luke asked.

"Victor Von Doom." Jessica said.

"You mean that foreign king that can shoot electricity from his hands?" Luke asked.

"The very same." Jessica replied. "Like you Mr. Cage my king is an EVO." She explained.

Jessica then grabbed the case of foreign beer on the counter and easily lifted it above her head with one hand.

Making Luke's widen in shock.

As they did Jessica placed the foreign beer case back on the counter.

"And as you just saw from that display I am an EVO as well. But unlike me who obtained my powers by accident, or Victor, you were forciblly turned into an EVO. While having your civil liberties violated in prison. Having no choice but to be forced to participate in an unehrcial and illegal experiment that very likely could've resulted in your death. Had everything not aligned just right for you." Jessica spoke.

"So, you know all about me." Luke mused.

Jessica nodding her head in confirmation.

"Okay, so what now? Since despite all your talking lady, you still haven't told me the real reason your in my bar right now." Luke spoke.

"Yes Mr. Cage, I was just getting to that." Jessica replied. "Simply put my king sent me here today to offer you support."

"Support you say?" Luke questioned.

"Yes, support." Jessica replied. "He will not only allocate resources to help you clear your name of the false charges brought against you, but will also help in making your Luke Cage identity your permanent one. As well as give you the tools to track down those that put you in your current situation in the first place and deal with them as you see fit." Jessica explained.

"Okay. So what's the catch?" Luke asked.

"My king wants you to become something greater than yourself. He wants you to publicly use your powers. Put yourself out there and fight for those who can't fight for themselves." Jessica explained.

"So what, he wants me to be a hero?" Luke questioned.

"Exactly." Jessica said. "You see my king is dedicated to making the world a better place for EVO's in general, and helping them co-exist easily with the rest of the population. So to do that he wants to show the world how EVO's can be a source of hope and a light in the darkness. Wouldn't you like that Mr. Cage? To show little boys and girls who look like you that anything is possible so long as you put your mind to it and put in the work? Especially those with powers."

Listening to Jessica speech Luke didn't know what to say.

His mind churning and digesting the words he was hearing.

Seeing this Jessica reached into her pocket, took a business card out of it, and placed it atop the counter.

"I can see that I won't be getting an answer to my proposal today. And that's perfectly fine Mr. Cage. If I were in your position I wouldn't easily accept a deal like this either. So take your time, truly think it over, and then if you decided to take it give the number on this card a call." She explained. "Well then, enjoy the rest of your day." Jessica said.

She then turned to leave, her bodyguards standing up from their seats to join her.

Though before Jessica exited the bar she placed 5 hundred dollar bills down on the counter.

"You've got a good bar here Mr. Cage, and a good bar tender. So here's your tip." Jessica spoke.

She and her bodyguards then truly took their leave from Luke's bar.

Leaving the man with a lot to think about.