Alexander Pierce, Minister of the World Security Council, was in his office, assigning tasks to his subordinates.
Suddenly, Pierce's eyes flickered: "Gentlemen, please ensure that the work assigned this time is implemented effectively after you return. You may leave now."
After the staff from the subordinate departments had left, Pierce took out his phone from his pocket and placed it on the desk, projecting a virtual screen.
"Contacting me at this time, has there been progress in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research?" Pierce asked the Hydra member embedded in the S.H.I.E.L.D. research department on the other side of the screen.
The Hydra member on the other side shook his head: "We still have no clue regarding the control and utilization of the Bugster Virus within the Gashat. Research on the Abomination cells has also just begun."
Pierce narrowed his eyes slightly: "So you specifically contacted me to report that our plan has made no progress?"
"I have new information to report," the Hydra member on the other side quickly replied.
"Speak," Pierce said curtly, his mood clearly not good at the moment.
"Nick Fury brought back a gang member and an unidentified device that looks like a broken USB drive from somewhere. He handed them over to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research department, requesting a comprehensive study and analysis. I sensed that the significance was extraordinary, so I immediately reported to you."
Pierce frowned slightly upon hearing this. A gang member? This was never S.H.I.E.L.D.'s purview. Nick would definitely not bother with gang affairs if he had nothing better to do.
"It seems that what Nick brought back is certainly not ordinary. Send me the picture," Pierce commanded.
"This is..." Pierce immediately recognized the shattered Beast Memory on the screen. Although it was broken into pieces, he could instantly identify it as the same type of object as the so-called Gaia Memory sent by Foundation X to Dr. Stern in the Shocker organization.
"Gaia Memory? Another move by Foundation X?!" Pierce contemplated briefly.
He was very clear that the Gaia Memory was an item that could grant users incredible powers. Dr. Stern, the user of the Gene Memory, could arbitrarily combine and edit biological genes, which was of great use to Shocker's Cyborg enhancement experiments.
When Hydra learned of Dr. Stern's ability, they naturally wanted to study the Gaia Memory in his hands. However, since Dr. Stern was sent by Foundation X, they were somewhat apprehensive, unwilling to act rashly and make a move that might provoke the Foundation. Who knew if this was a test by the Foundation, sending Stern alone to the Shocker organization? Moreover, Stern wasn't an internal member of the Foundation, just someone they randomly found, which made him look like a disposable lure.
Furthermore, Dr. Zola believed that Dr. Stern could provide great assistance to his experiments and disagreed with any intervention.
"Sir?" The Hydra member on the screen called out softly, seeing that Pierce hadn't spoken for a long time.
Pierce snapped back to attention: "Closely monitor S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research on the Gaia Memory they brought back. Also, monitor Nick's recent whereabouts. Investigate all recent activities of the gang member Nick brought back. It would be best if you could find the source of the Gaia Memory."
"Gaia Memory? That's what Nick Fury brought back to S.H.I.E.L.D.," the Hydra member thought to himself, nodding slightly.
"Do you have any other instructions, sir?"
"Regarding the research on that Bugster Virus, what's going on? Has there really been no progress?" Pierce asked.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s research on the Bugster Virus remains conservative, so progress is slow. After all, they are also worried about creating that kind of monster."
Pierce started to speak, but stopped. After all, he didn't understand scientific technology or experiments, so it was better to let professionals handle those matters.
"That's enough. Try to find a way to accelerate the S.H.I.E.L.D. experiment department's progress so we can harvest the results," Pierce instructed.
"Understood, sir."
The Hydra member on the screen replied: "Hail Hydra!"
"Hail Hydra." Pierce nodded with satisfaction and cut the communication.
Pierce was just contemplating whether to find a reason to seek out Nick Fury and see if he could extract some useful intelligence from him, when his phone suddenly vibrated again.
Pierce frowned, looking at the secret communication channel displayed on his phone. He connected the call: "What is it?"
"Sir, an accident occurred at the secret laboratory we set up in a New York prison," the person on the screen reported nervously.
Pierce raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and asked: "That laboratory that hasn't yielded any results?"
The American military had been conducting experiments to recreate the Super Soldier program, and Hydra naturally hadn't given up either. Pierce's faction of Hydra used their power and influence to establish a secret research facility within a New York prison, using inmates for human experimentation. Of course, the experiment had been running for several years but had never achieved any groundbreaking results.
"The laboratory suffered an accidental explosion. How should we handle it? Should we switch to a different location for the experiment?" the person in charge of the experimental project cautiously asked for instructions.
"No need," Pierce said coldly: "Since the laboratory had an accident, terminate the project. From now on, this project is hereby stopped. Destroy all related information and eliminate all informed personnel."
"This... but the experiment project is..." The person in charge on the screen clearly didn't expect Pierce to terminate the project immediately.
"There's no need to say more. You only need to follow orders," Pierce's tone allowed no room for doubt. "The experiment has been running for so many years without any useful results. This project no longer has any value."
After all, whether it was Shocker's Cyborg enhancement technology, or the Bugster Virus, the Gamma cell-mutated Abomination corpse obtained by S.H.I.E.L.D., and now the addition of the Gaia Memory—these were all clear, visible sources of power.
In comparison, an experimental project that had yielded no results for many years appeared quite obsolete. Not only had it failed to produce anything useful or applicable after so many years, but even if it achieved a breakthrough later, the ceiling would only be the World War II-era Captain America. Compared to the several powers visible to Pierce, it was indeed somewhat outdated.
Pierce had previously left the project alone since it could run independently. However, since the project had now experienced an accident, it was better to shut it down immediately rather than investing massive resources into a project of little value once again.
"Yes, I understands. I will immediately clear all traces of the experimental project." Realizing that Pierce had made up his mind, the project leader knew the situation was irreversible and could only obey the command.
On the streets of New York, a newly freed Luke Cage stood on the bustling street, looking at the people coming and going, the neon lights of the streetside shops and buildings, feeling a sense of having returned from another world.
Luke Cage, real name Carl Lucas, had run with street gangs when he was young, but as he grew older and his relatives passed away, he decided to abandon that life and start fresh. However, he was framed by a former friend and imprisoned. While in prison, he volunteered to undergo an experiment attempting to recreate the Super Soldier Program to get out early. During the experiment, a hostile inmate broke into the lab to harm Carl.
(Another version says it was a hostile guard; regardless, someone appeared to cause trouble.)
This accidental interference accelerated the chemical changes in Carl's body, causing all his cells to mutate. His strength greatly increased, and he gained the ability to be impervious to knives and bullets. The laboratory subsequently exploded, and Carl survived using his new powers and escaped from prison.
Back in New York, Luke Cage was unaware that the experimental project he had gone through would be immediately terminated and all related information destroyed. He believed that the behind-the-scenes forces conducting the experiment might detect his survival and track him down. If his acquisition of superpowers were discovered, he would certainly be recaptured as an experimental subject.
Therefore, he decided to completely break with his past. He changed his name to Luke Cage and began a new life.
Author's Note:
(Luke Cage's origin story was slightly altered here, connecting him to Hydra.)
(End of this chapter)