4. Nick Fury
Late at night, Washington, D.C. was still brightly lit and bustling.
After the presendential office was moved out from D.C. , the nearby gangs occupied the area. Perhaps everyone wanted to experience the grandeur of the president's palace. Dozens of gangs rooted themselves here, with various conflicts breaking out daily.
Here, the law held no sway, and all order had collapsed. It was a haven for criminals and a cradle for evil, filled with countless addicts and lowlifes. Compared to this place, Gotham City seemed more sunny.
Initially, President X intended to manage Washington, but the Avengers continuously occupied his attention, preventing him from sending troops to suppress the area. By the time he turned his focus here, it had already become an ungovernable black zone.
Alex drove through the area, gripping the steering wheel with one hand and clutching a gun tightly in the other. Honestly, living through two lifetimes might have given Alex immense confidence, making him less socially anxious than in his past life. However, the fear and tension from uncontrolled chaos was a feeling that would never diminish.
Upon entering the city, the number of pedestrians increased. Yet, looking around, Alex felt like he had arrived in hell. Many were emaciated, some with rolling eyes leaning against walls, and the streets were littered with garbage and vomit, making Alex frown deeply.
If not for the crowd, Alex might have stepped on the gas and sped through here without slowing down.Alex's arrival drew some attention, but no one made any overt moves, which was a small relief. After scouting the surroundings, Alex turned the car into a small alley.
He opened the door, quickly shouldered his bag, and then opened the trunk to let Pietro out.
"Put on your clothes. This place can swallow you whole. I need to handle some business; you have to ensure my safety."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you," Pietro said, wearing a fisherman's hat to hide his silver hair and draping a long coat over himself. He nodded seriously at Alex, promising.
"There are many mutants here. With their cover, using your powers won't draw President X's attention. But still, be cautious. Remember, your speed isn't invincible." Alex reminded Pietro and then the two walked out of the alley, one after the other.
Texas borders Mexico and is a chaotic place, too far from New York. Alex needed to get everything ready quickly. On this route, no place was better for acquiring fuel and weapons than Washington, D.C.
Merging into the crowd, Alex felt the chaos more viscerally, the unpleasant smells constantly assaulting his nose, making his stomach churn. Passing a bar, a commotion broke out. Two burly men dragged a gaunt man out and threw him into the filth.
The man quickly scrambled up, stumbling towards the two burly men, rasping in a hoarse voice, "Please, just a little more. I'll get the money, I promise, please..."
One of the burly men sneered, stepping back in disgust, and then pulled out a gun, pressing it to the man's forehead.
"Wade, this isn't the first time it happened. You shouldn't have stolen from my boss."
"No, I didn't mean to, please..." The man called Wade trembled, stuttering.
"Lost your smart mouth? Ha!" The burly man didn't waste any more time, pulling the trigger and shooting Wade. He then fired a few more shots, seemingly venting some frustration.
No one in the surrounding crowd intervened, as if it had nothing to do with them, just like watching a movie. This reminded Alex of Hawkeye's execution scene.
"What's wrong?" Pietro couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing." Alex shook his head and headed towards the bar.
In a place like this, bars were the best for gathering information and, compared to the streets, were actually safer. The gangs would ensure no one caused trouble inside.
Stepping over Wade's body, Alex and Pietro entered the bar. The two burly men at the entrance continued their conversation, paying little attention to Alex and Pietro. Discussing which street had the sexiest women seemed more important to them.
Inside, the bar was dark and noisy, but relatively clean compared to the streets. At least, Alex didn't smell anything that made him want to vomit.
"A new face, what can I get you?" As Alex was looking for a seat, a girl wearing green top and a radiant smile approached him.
She had red hair and a great figure, but her strong perfume made Alex frown. "A quiet spot and two drinks."
"Of course, darling. Follow me." The girl blew a kiss and led Alex and Pietro to a corner, one of the few quiet spots, though there was a man lying on the ground nearby, his condition unknown.
"Drinks will be right up. Do you need any other services? Just $20." The girl leaned forward, showing off her figure.
Ignoring the gesture, Alex asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"What's your name?"
The girl was taken aback but thought he might have some kind of fetish. She smiled, "You can call me Jean, or you can give me a name."
"Never mind." Alex waved her off. "I'll call you if I need anything."
Annoyed but silent, the girl walked away.
Pietro couldn't help but ask, "Do you know that girl?"
"Sort of, but she's not the person I remember. This just solidifies our plan." Alex picked up the drink, hesitated, and put it back down.
Although thirsty, considering the environment, Alex didn't dare consume anything, unsure if it was spiked.
"You said we'd get some gear here. How do we start? Who do we find?" Pietro seemed uneasy, scanning the surroundings while speaking.
"We don't need to look; someone will come to us." Alex said calmly.
Sure enough, after turning down several women's offers, a one-eyed white man approached.
He sat in front of Alex, unceremoniously taking the untouched drink and downing it.
"Here for business too?" Alex asked, eyeing the man.
"Heh, I just didn't want to waste the drinks. I know you're here for business. Tell me, maybe I can help."
"How do you know?"
"Simple. You're not here for fun, just sitting quietly, not even drinking. You must be someone important. I may be one-eyed, but I read people well."
"Interesting. You're right. Let's talk somewhere private." Alex felt he was halfway to his goal, getting up to follow the man to the bar's back door.
On the way, Alex learned the man's name, Nick Fury. He didn't seem to keep it a secret.
Unlike the black Nick Fury everyone knew from his past life, this Nick Fury was a white man and a member of Captain America's Howling Commandos. Surprisingly, he had also fallen to such a state.
.....
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5. The Damned World
6. The Next Stop
7. The White Queen
8. Already Dead.
9. Still Alive.