It wasn't just the military that had taken notice of Luke.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was also digging deep into the sudden appearance of the three-headed dog.
Originally, Director Nick Fury had little interest in butting heads with General Ross. The two had never been on friendly terms, and their jurisdictions rarely overlapped.
But that had started to change.
Ross's obsession with creating a super soldier had begun to cross lines, and Fury had been watching him more closely than ever. Especially now that the Avengers Initiative was underway.
Unfortunately, the Initiative was still paper-thin. Captain Marvel was off-world, and his only confirmed candidates he could count on were his two best agents, Hawkeye and Black Widow.
Without Captain Marvel, the remaining duo were barely enough to stop a well-funded crime syndicate, let alone an alien invasion.
Fury needed more. And for a long time, the Hulk had been on his radar.
So when the Abomination emerged in New York, S.H.I.E.L.D. satellites had captured the entire event in real time.
Thus he had been one of the first people to see the appearance of the three-headed dog.
But unlike Ross, Fury wasn't just awestruck by its raw power.
He noticed something else.
The creature hadn't rampaged like the Abomination. It hadn't attacked civilians indiscriminately. Despite the collateral damage caused by the heat it radiated, its intent had been clear:
It went straight for the Abomination.
That beast was clearly focused.
Controlled, maybe?
"Agent Hill," Fury said, steepling his fingers in front of his face. "Did you find what I asked for?"
"Yes, Director," Maria Hill responded crisply. "His name is Luke Yale. Grew up in an orphanage here in New York. Currently owns a small grocery store on 59th Avenue, Manhattan. Lives with a girl, Wanda Maximoff…"
She went on to explain everything she had found so far.
Luke hadn't made any effort to hide his identity. Not that he had the means to even try.
He hadn't expected his dog to turn into a hellish Cerberus in the middle of New York City. No one could have predicted that.
It was a complete accident.
But that accident had placed Luke directly in the spotlight, making him the target of several organizations, some legal and some not so much.
Fury tapped a finger on his desk in contemplation. "Hmm... ordinary background. But if he really can control that dog, he might be worth considering for the Initiative."
The dog's power was undeniable.
"Contact agent Romanoff. I want her to pay a visit to that grocery store. Tell her to evaluate the target."
Not just anyone could join the Avengers. Fury had standards. Every candidate went through testing, observation, psychological profiling...
Even if they didn't know it.
"Yes, Director," Hill said, already moving to make the call.
…
Meanwhile, Luke had no idea both the U.S. military and S.H.I.E.L.D. were racing to find him.
But even if he knew, what could he do?
Run away?
With Wanda?
Not a chance.
This grocery store was their home. Their only anchor. Luke wasn't leaving. Not without a fight.
He sat behind the counter, slouched in his uncomfortable chair, letting out a groan.
"Damn chair," he muttered. "Feels like sitting on rocks."
As if in response.
[Ding~ Your chair has sensed its owner's dissatisfaction. To avoid being replaced, it has evolved into a high-end gaming chair.]
Luke's eyes lit up, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Finally! He'd been stuck with that stiff thing for months. Now, wrapped in ergonomic padding with adjustable lumbar support, he sank into the plush embrace of his new throne.
After the system's complete awakening, it had been making more and more subtle changes around him, everything responding to his needs without him needing to lift a single finger.
This was what life should be like.
As he leaned back, he felt an urge he hadn't felt in a while: gaming.
He booted up his computer, logged into his Battle.net account, and opened the game World of Warcraft.
The system chimes rolled in like a jackpot:
[Ding~ Your account detected insufficient funds. Auto-recharged $1,000 to enhance owner satisfaction.]
[Ding~ Your character has determined he is too weak to match the owner's passion. He has auto-leveled to max and learned all class abilities.]
[Ding~ Your character feels inferior to teammates. Automatically upgrading to top-tier pvp and raid gear…]
The notifications came one after another, like music to his ears.
Luke's grin deepened. Who didn't dream of skipping the grind and jumping straight to max level with legendary loot?
Now he was a god among noobs.
…
Wanda, however, was far less amused.
Arms crossed, she leaned against the doorframe, frowning. "Luke, are you seriously just going to play games all day? We need money. The store's been dead lately."
She wasn't wrong. Foot traffic had dropped. Regulars still came by, but it wasn't enough to keep them afloat.
Luke didn't even look up from the screen.
"Relax. Kick the lucky cat statue at the entrance. Twice."
"What?"
"Just trust me. Give it a good whack. You'll see."
Wanda blinked, growing more annoyed. "Luke…"
But he was already back in the battlegrounds, annihilating enemies with god-tier gear and laughing maniacally. Just days ago, he'd been one of those helpless noobs.
Now?
They didn't stand a chance.
…