Luke Cage

[Walking into view of the camera, everyone's favorite neighborhood super hero has a large smile on his face as he takes a seat in a large, leather armchair.  There's a roaring fire in the fireplace and a picture of him standing next to Santa hangs over the mantle.  Both of them are flexing.]

Good afternoon, everyone.  Luke Cage here with a special holiday announcement to help keep you and yours safe this holiday season.

As you know, the holiday season is a time for togetherness and sharing, but it can also be hazardous if you aren't careful.  Remember to dress warmly.  For you little tykes, don't get too rough with the horseplay.  Nothing can put a damper on the Christmas spirit like a bad accident.  We can't all be as tough as good ol' Luke.  And if you see someone who looks like they could use a little Christmas cheer, go up to them and give them a holly jolly Merry Christmas!

This is Luke Cage, wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas.

Yo, this is Luke Cage.  If there's anyone from back home that I know, let me here from ya.  Be nice to hear a familiar voice.

I know some of you are from places similar enough to mine to understand this, but fall is known for something other than...that holiday we're not speaking of.

[He leans down and sits back up holding a football.]

That's right.  Football.  American football, for those of you who would feel the need to point out the difference.  Anyways, what I'm proposing is that we get volunteers who wanna play, decide on team captains and let them pick their team.  We could use the CES since all we'd really need is a big, flat grassy area to play in.  Maybe a tree or something at either side to designate the goal lines.  This could be touch or, if none of you wuss out, it can be tackle.  However, just to be fair, I won't be playing if it's tackle.

So, if you're interested, let me know.  If you think it's a horrible idea, I really don't give a damn, but let me know anyways.

[The video begins and it doesn't take long for it to become clear that the device isn't supposed to be recording.  It shows the inside of Luke's cabin though Luke himself isn't visible yet though there's the sound of a shower running which ends shortly.  Several seconds later, Luke emerges from the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist.  Near the bathroom door is a mirror hanging on the wall.  As he walks past it, his reflection isn't seen though, a faceless apparition goes by in the mirror shortly after he passes it.

When he turns to walk by it a second time, the apparition lunges at the mirror and Luke gives a slight shout before turning and breaking the mirror with his fist....aaand putting an arm sized hole in his wall.]

Damnit!

[The video stops there, only for it to start up again a few minutes later, Luke completely unaware that it was on before.]

Hey, who do we talk to about cabin repairs?  Or does the Admiral handle that?

I'm pleased to announce that Franklin Mott has graduated.  It was a long time coming really.  He wasn't a bad guy at his core, he just got turned around a bit and it took a combination of people who cared about him for him to finally see that.

Some....hell, probably most of you Inmates have a hard time believing this, but some of us actually do give a damn about your future.  I'm happy as hell Frankie graduated and I hope he can go back and make the most of the changes he's made.  Change isn't this big monster waiting to gobble you up and spit you out as some totally different person.  It sure as hell won't kill you.

I've been in a volunteering mood lately, and feel like getting out of the gym for a while so if anybody needs an extra pair of hands to do something, carry something, whatever...better call it before I change my mind.

[Luke certainly doesn't look nearly as bad as some of the other people who have been posting as of late, though he's not his usual carefree, relaxed self.]


I'm not coming on here to do the whole "that wasn't me" dance.  If I need to tell someone that that guy wasn't me, then they don't know me well enough to be making any character judgement calls in the first place.  Be that as it may, I still feel that I owe those effect by my behavior an apology and am issuing one now.


I'm sorry for any harm I caused and, if there's anything I can do to help or make up for it, do not hesitate to ask.



[Private to any woman Luke had relations with]


I owe an especially serious apology to those of you effected more personally by the actions during the flood.  The attitudes shown to you were  completely disrespectful, and I hope that you can forgive me for them.



[Private to Toshiko]



You did what you had to do.  Are you alright?  Need anything?

What the fuck, man?!  I'm bout sick and tired of this Admiral fucka and his none drivin' ass self.  He's lucky none of my shit hit the floor or I'd be a one tearing a hole in this ship.  And his ass.

Forget that old as cracker mothafucka.  I got more important shit to deal with right now.

[Private to Alice Morgan]

Hey, baby girl.  Why don't you come pay big daddy a visit?

[Private to Una]

You got my new stash of shit ready?  I feel like havin' a little party.

[The image on the screen shows a wall in a room with a bunch of different pictures on it.  As he moves from one picture to another, Luke's voice can be heard almost like a voiceover, but he's clearly speaking to all of you.]

I been meaning to do this for a while now, especially when I ran across a couple people here who apparently come from a world like mine but not identical to it.

Where I'm from, there's a long history of people who take it upon themselves to fight for what they believe in.  Whether it's to stop criminals, protect their country...or just make their own hood a better place to live.  These people often take on a secret identity, often becoming like a living embodiment of what they believe in.  They become something of a symbol.  More often than not, these people aren't exactly normal.  Take this guy for example.  [He stops in front of this guy.]  This is my main man back home.  His name is Danny Rand.  When he's wearing this number right here, he's called Iron Fist.  For the record, his fists are a whole hell of a lot harder than iron.

Or this guy.  [Have another picture]  Captain America.  This guy is probably the hero that almost every other guy aspires to be.  Honor, duty, all that mess thrown in.  This guy was knocked into a glacier for decades and you know what he does when he's thawed out?  Back to fuckin' work.

Of course, this definitely wasn't a guys only game. [Have another]  The sistah in the back's named Misty Knight.  She runs a little business called Heroes for Hire that I started back in my early days and has a mean right hook.  Her partner there is Colleen Wing.  Don't let her innocent look fool ya.  She's got crazy skills, especially with her katana.

I've been wondering if there was anyone else here who might know some of these people, or come from a world that's similar to mine.

[Other pictures shown in his video.  1, 2, 3, 4]

[There's a shuffling followed by a sliding sound as though the communicator is being dragged across something.]

Come on...almost...ah, shit!

[There's a thud as the communicator apparently falls, turning on the video feature.  Fortunately falling with the camera facing up, you can see the edge of a sofa.  On the edge of the sofa, looking down, is a brown and white hamster.]

Man this is some messed up...if someone can hear me, I could use some help.  My door's unlocked.  I think.  Damnit.

[You'll hear more grumbling and cursing as he climbs down off the sofa and eventually cuts the feed.]