Danny Rand was perched on the roof of the police station, watching quietly as officers one by one left at the shift change. He was dressed in the ceremonial garb of the Iron Fist, given to him once he gained that ability in the mystical land of K’un L’un.

He watched Detective Ishmael Ortega exit the building and make his way to his car. Once he pulled onto the street and drove off, Danny made his break. He ran across the roof of the precinct and leapt across to the next building. The second he landed, he broke into a run again.

Rand darted as fast as he could, keeping his eyes fixed on Ortega’s car. Of the many skills Danny learned in K’un L’un, one of them was to channel his chi energy for a variety of functions, including boosting his speed and senses. Right now, he focused them to those specific areas of his physiology, allowing him to keep pace with the car as well as maintain a visual on it if it got too far ahead of him.

Danny stopped as Ortega parked on the side of the street, about half a block away from his apartment tenement. Rand leapt over the side of the building and slowed his descent into the alley by bounding back and forth between the two buildings before landing in a crouched position. He pressed up against one of the buildings and concentrated his hearing on Ortega’s footsteps. Once they grew close enough, Danny shot his arm out, grabbed Ortega by the collar, and pulled him into the alley.

“What the hell do you want?” asked Ortega.

“I just want to talk,” said Danny.

“I have a phone,” said Ortega.

“I thought the direct approach was better,” said Danny. “You’re investigating the death of Eddie Marchek, right?”

“What’s it to you?” asked Ortega.

“His family hired me, I’m a private investigator.”

“So this is what P.I.s are wearing these days?” asked Ortega.

“Cute.”

“And I know who you are, Rand,” said Ortega. “You and your buddy Cage used to run that Heroes For Hire outfit, right?”

“We’re back in business now,” said Danny.

“Apparently,” said Ortega. “So, what is it you want? This gonna turn into a threat?”

“I’m not here to threaten you, Detective. I told you, I just want to talk.”

“Okay, so talk.”

“The kid died from a fever overdose, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what the autopsy said.”

“At the X-Factory?”

“Yup.”

“And…?”

“And what?” asked Ortega. “That’s all we’ve got.”

“No luck at finding the dealer?” asked Danny.

“Who you kidding? Finding the guy who dealt to Marchek is like finding a needle in a haystack. Fever dealers aren’t exactly rare in Mutant Town,” said Ortega.

“Any suspects within the X-Factory? Any regulars in there?”

“Most of the dealers operate out of the X-Factory.”

“So why haven’t you been able to do anything about it?” asked Danny.

“Look around. Mutant Town’s got some of the highest poverty rates in the nation. You really think people bat an eye when some mutant kid O.D.s? Far as most people are concerned, it’s good riddance.”

Danny could sense something in Ortega’s voice. A hint of disgust as the detective spoke those words. “You don’t think that, though.”

Ortega sighed. “No, I don’t.”

“So do something about it,” said Danny.

“Do you know anything about the cops in Mutant Town? Half of them are on the take. Carnation’s able to keep the X-Factory open because he pays off anyone who asks too many questions. Anyone with half a brain knows Carnation encourages fever in his club.”

“Things are about to change, then,” said Danny.

DOWN AND OUT IN MUTANT TOWN

Part III: Everybody’s Got The Fever

By Dino Pollard

X-Factory

Luke Cage saw the line to get into the X-Factory, but he bypassed it completely and sauntered right up to the front door. The bouncers he fought the night before stood at the door. The human one, Lance, had several bandages. Robby, the mutant one with a body of stone, looked like he had cement where he had been split by Cage’s steel-hard fists.

“I’m here to see the big man,” said Cage.

“He’s expecting you, Mr. Cage, go right in,” said Lance.

“Good,” said Cage. “Hey, no hard feelin’s, right?”

“Ain’t the first time I been knocked on my ass,” said Lance with a shrug.

“What about you, Rocky?” asked Cage, looking at the second bouncer.

“That’s Robby,” he grunted.

“Ease up,” said Cage. “Damn, you need to get a massage for your big ass.”

Luke walked past the two bouncers and entered the dim lighting of the X-Factory. He looked around and saw hundreds of people, mostly in their early twenties (and he imagined more than a few who were underage with fake I.D.s), grinding on the dance floor beneath the flashing lights. Others stood off by the side or sat at tables or the bar.

He walked through the club, pushing past the people to make his way to the metal staircase at the opposite end. Once there, he ascended the steps and walked up to a door where two burly guys stood as sentries.

“What do you want?” asked one of them.

“Here for a meetin’ with your boss,” said Luke. “Name’s Cage.”

The sentry nodded and opened the door, holding it open. The former Power Man walked inside and glanced around the large office. He took notice of the Magneto memorabilia before his eyes settled on Jumbo Carnation, who sat behind the desk.

“Ah, Mr. Cage, so glad you could make it,” said Carnation with a smile.

Cage walked up to him and Carnation offered one of his hands to his visitor. Luke reluctantly shook it.

“So, I take it you’re here about my offer from last night?” asked Carnation.

“Yeah, I thought about it an’ it made a lotta sense,” said Cage.

Carnation gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, please, have a seat.”

Luke settled into the chair. “So how much you pay?”

“Twelve an hour, plus tips,” said Carnation.

“Not too shabby. You know I’m not a mutant, right?”

“You’re not?” asked Carnation.

“That a problem?”

“Why would it be?”

Luke gestured to the ‘MAGNETO WAS RIGHT’ poster on the wall. Carnation glanced at it and chuckled. “Think nothing of that, Mr. Cage. You know kids these days. I’m a businessman and I’m not about to turn someone away who can benefit my establishment just because of his genetic heritage.”

“Good t’ know,” said Luke.

“The X-Factory caters to both mutants and humans alike. We don’t discriminate on the basis of genetics,” said Carnation. “Your main job will be to see to it that no one disturbs the peace. X-Factory is a place where people can come and enjoy themselves and I want that tradition to continue.”

“Guess you got yourself a bouncer,” said Luke.

“Welcome to the X-Factory, Mr. Cage. You start tomorrow night. Doors open at nine.”

“I’ll be there,” said Luke.

Harlem

Luke Cage walked into the small bar. Dixie, the bartender, smiled at him and he just nodded in response. He took notice of the young man with short, blond hair sitting at the bar, conversing with her. Luke slid onto the stool next to him and Dixie and Danny stopped their conversation.

“Beer?” asked Dixie.

“Yeah,” said Luke. He nudged Danny. “You want one?”

“No, I’m fine,” said Danny. Dixie nodded and went to the tap to get Luke’s drink. “She’s nice.”

“She used t’ run this place, but it was torched by some assholes,” said Luke. “I took out the bastards, but she didn’t have the money to fix it up. So I bought it. She basically runs the place, I’m more of a silent partner, I guess.”

Dixie came back and set the beer in front of Luke. He smiled in thanks. Dixie took her cue and walked around the bar, cleaning off the tables.

“You meet with Carnation?” asked Danny.

“Yup. I start tomorrow night,” said Luke. “How about you? Any luck?”

“I talked with the detective who’s investigating the murder. Turns out they’re not doing much investigating,” said Danny. “Mutant kid O.D.ing isn’t really a priority. Not even in a place like Mutant Town.”

“Especially not in a place like Mutant Town,” said Luke. “They may be the majority, but that don’t mean they get treated any nicer than other places. It’s every man for himself. Reminds me of my own childhood.”

“Well, I spoke to the detective, guy by the name of Ortega. He thinks Carnation encourages fever dealers. Not only that, but he said that there’s probably some cops on the take as well.”

“Surprise, surprise. Turn up anything else?”

“Yeah, after I talked with Ortega, I hit the streets of Mutant Town,” said Danny. “There’s one name that kept popping up. Dealer by the name of Jazz. Apparently, he frequents the X-Factory.”

“How’m I supposed t’ know who he is?”

“Well, he’s got blue skin. Shouldn’t be too hard to find him.”

X-Factory

Luke sighed as his gaze passed over the patrons of the X-Factory. He counted at least a dozen or so, possibly more, with blue skin.

“‘Shouldn’t be too hard to find him,'” he mumbled, repeating what Danny had said to him earlier. He suppressed a yawn. He’d been here for two hours so far, and hadn’t seen a bit of action. He was instantly reminded why he had hated security jobs he and Danny would take in the old days. Long hours of nothing but standing around and waiting. It was enough to drive a man insane.

“I’m gonna walk the floor, you good here?” asked Luke. He was paired with Robby for his first night here, something Robby wasn’t too happy about.

“Like I need your help,” he scoffed.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Luke.

As he walked the floor, moving through the crowd, he focused his attention on anything that might seem out of the ordinary. Of course, he wasn’t sure exactly what that would be, since he wasn’t at all familiar with this place. His eyes did take notice of a young man with blue skin standing in a corner with another guy, who (at least from appearances) looked human. Luke saw some cash trade hands and then he saw the blue-skinned youth slip the human something.

Luke pushed his way through the crowd and slapped his hand on the blue guy’s shoulder. “What was that I just saw?”

“Hey, ease up, man. It’s cool,” he said.

“Don’t think so,” said Luke.

“No really, it’s cool. I’m Jazz, Jumbo probably told you about me.”

Luke arched his eyebrow. “No, should he?”

“He gets a cut, bro.”

Luke pushed Jazz forward, towards one of the exit doors. “Get movin’.”

Jazz did as he was instructed and allowed Luke to lead him out back into an alley. Luke closed the door behind them and pinned Jazz up against the wall.

“Hey man, whaddaya doin’?”

Luke offered no response. Instead, he used one of his hands and fished inside Jazz’s pants pockets. He pulled out a Ziplock bag full of pills. He held the bag in front of Jazz’s face for him to see.

“This what I think it is?”

“Dude, I told you, Jumbo knows about me,” said Jazz. “Just take me up to his office an’ we’ll straighten all this out.”

“Don’t think so,” said Luke. “I think you’re gonna tell me everything about this little operation you got goin’.”

“What are you, some kinda cop?” asked Jazz.

Luke punched the wall beside Jazz’s head and his fist went through it. Jazz watched in awe as Luke pulled his fist out and there wasn’t a scratch on it. He started to quiver beneath Luke’s grasp.

“Talk!”

“Alright man, geez…” said Jazz. “Jumbo gets us the pills. Has us deal ’em in the club, an’ we get a cut of the profits.”

“What about the cops?”

“He’s got them on the payroll, one’a them’s in his office right now, saw him come in here earlier,” said Jazz. “Real bastard, hates mutants.”

“Name, Jazz.”

“I dunno, man.”

Luke punched another spot on the wall, making another hole.

“Ahh Christ! Kucharsky! His name’s Kucharsky!”

Luke released Jazz. “Now get outta here before I lose my temper.”

Jazz nodded and ran off down the alley. Once he was gone, Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He selected the last call from his phone’s memory and placed it by his ear.

“Hey Danny, it’s me. I got a guy for you t’ check up on. Gus Kucharsky.”

{{Are you sure?}}

“Yeah, why?”

{{Luke, Gus Kucharsky is one of the detectives who’s investigating Marchek’s murder. He’s Ortega’s partner.}}

“You think Ortega’s in on it, too?”

{{I don’t think so, didn’t seem like that type.}}

“Get ‘im invovled, then.”

“I’d like to say I’m surprised you could be this stupid, but then I’d be lying,” said Kucharsky. “You hired the goddamn Power Man as your new bouncer, you dumb shit.”

Carnation leaned back in his chair, looking at the photos Kucharsky had brought him. They were of Luke Cage, his new bouncer, from his days as Power Man—dressed in black pants with a yellow shirt and boots and a silver tiarra. Most of them, he was pictured next to a white man with a dragon tattoo on his chest and a green and yellow costume.

“Power Man and Iron Fist, Heroes For Hire,” said Kucharsky.

“They’re out of business, last I heard,” said Carnation.

“Yeah, well word on the street is Marchek’s parents hired Iron Fist to look into their kid’s death. And apparently, Fist has been asking questions. Plus, now you’ve hired Cage as your new bouncer. Christ, you fucking genejokes can’t do anything right, can you?”

“I’ll handle this,” said Carnation.

“And how are you gonna do that?” asked Kucharsky. “He already beat the shit out of your best bouncer.”

Carnation picked up the phone and dialed. He heard the other line ring a few times before someone answered. “Yes, hello. I’m looking for a gentleman by the name of Marko.”