Danny and Luke step out of a car and traipse through a desert in Arizona. "Sure this is the right place?," Luke asks. Danny looks off into the distance and sees a small trailer with a nearby shooting range, a truck, hitched boat, and some storage sheds. "I guess that's it," he points Luke in the right direction and they walk toward it.

"Couldn't this guy live in the city?," Cage asks, "Or some other place remotely close to civilization?"

"Maybe he's really introverted."

"Introverted people can still live in towns."

"Don't know what to tell ya. Hogarth thinks he's a little eccentric. Maybe he doesn't like being around people."

"Sounds great to work with."

They walk up to the trailer, open the outside screen, and knock on the front door. They wait a few moments and soon, a distinct clicking sound can be heard. Cage leans over to Danny and quietly whispers, "You hear a shotgun?". Danny leans over and also quietly whispers, "Yeah." A rough voice can be heard behind them, "Turn around, slowly." They comply. A Caucasian man in his mid-30's with unkempt brown hair holds a shotgun on both of them, "Did the IRS send you?"

"No. I'm Daniel Rand and this is Luke Cage. My associate, Mr. Hogarth, contacted you a while back?"

The man takes a closer look, a wry smile crossing his face before lowering his shotgun, "Sorry, didn't expect to hear back from you people so soon."

"We would have called..."

"Yeah, no phone. Better that way," he hangs the shotgun across his shoulder and shakes their hands, "You can call me Paladin."

"You have a real name?," Luke asks.

"Yes," Paladin answers frankly and moves past them to his trailer, "Come on in."

The trailer is more impressive on the inside: various guns and other weapons line the walls, ammo is stored in lockers, and there's a workshop at the back with various pieces of equipment and material. "This is the command center," Paladin moves them through the trailer to a black wardrobe with a padlock, "I got another bunker out in the desert that has an even bigger stockpile than this one." Cage checks out the weapons on the wall, "I'm going to assume you have permits for all these?". Paladin nods, "You bet. I'm a licensed bodyguard, private investigator, and bounty hunter. I even have a pilot's license in case we need to fly. Everything I do is perfectly legal, fellas, don't worry."

"I heard you were a soldier of fortune as well?," Danny asks.

"Soldier of fortune?," Cage becomes incredulous, "Like a mercenary?"

"We prefer the term private contractor."

"Danny, I'm not so sure about this guy."

"I understand, look, I don't work for any of those shady security agencies. Those are just corporate-sponsored armies. I'm a private agent and I do my homework. I check out my clients beforehand and see if they have a mostly clean record."

"Mostly clean?," Cage asks.

"I try my best to stay out of politics. As long as I know I'm not going to be asked to commit war crimes, I will usually do the job."

"If you work for us, you'll be on retainer," Danny tells him, "You'll have no other missions unless we say so."

"That's a big if," Cage adds.

"I get it. You want the hard sell. Aside from extensive training in combat and being a pilot, I have a network of connections around the globe, and, I am a bit of an engineer," he unlocks the wardrobe, "Let me show you my gear. I made it myself."

He opens the doors of the wardrobe, allowing the two men to look inside. There, rests a black bodysuit. At its side are violet shoulder pads, a chest plate, gauntlets, boots, utility belt, and a helmet complete with built-in goggles and a chin strap. "This baby is bullet proof," he raps on the chest plate, "Easily capable of withstanding large caliber rifles. It's also fire proof, insulated, and has a few secret compartments for weapons as well as tasers in the gloves. The goggles allow for infra-red and night vision. It's not an Iron Man suit, but it gets the job done."

"It is impressive," Danny tells him.

"Thanks," he closes the wardrobe and locks it, "So let's talk about price."

Later, Danny and Cage walk back to their car. "I can't believe you even considered that guy, let alone hired him" Cage gripes, "He's obviously in it just for the money. He says he does things the legal way, but I know guys like this. They find loopholes. Dude's out of his mind and weird." Once they reach the car, Danny turns and looks at Cage, "You're right," he agrees, "But he has the experience and he's willing to get involved in Sokovia for the price I'm willing to pay him. If we're going into walk into a warzone, we need guys like that." He gets in the car and an annoyed Cage follows.

In Sokovia, Gideon's men shove reporters into the Prime Minister's office. There, Gideon Mace sits in the Prime Minister's chair, his feet propped up on the desk. He looks at the reporters with a smile, "Ah, I'm glad a few of you decided to stay behind to feed corporate media." They gaze around nervously, but Gideon stands to his feet to greet them, "Don't worry," he tells them, "I need you people alive."

In a news studio somewhere in the US, a producer rushes to a reporter during a commercial break. He quickly whispers into his ear while the camera man counts down, "We're on in three... two...," and he signals for one. The On-Air light comes on and the reporter straightens up, "And we're back. Breaking news from Sokovia: the man who has apparently been responsible for overthrowing that country has decided to break his silence tonight and speak to the world." A picture of Gideon Mace appears onscreen, "He has identified himself as Gideon Mace, a former Army Colonel and current militia leader. After his men released this footage, he asked that it be broadcast unedited in exchange for releasing the journalists he currently has captive. Let's take a look." The footage changes to show Gideon Mace standing at attention in the Prime Minister's office.

"Hello, I am Gideon Mace. I am a former Army Colonel, 76th Regiment. For the past few years, I have orchestrated a militia, for the sole purpose of defending what I believe to be inalienable rights of human beings. I believe humanity has an obligation to make its own destiny. I do not believe in international borders as most borders were taken and drawn by force many years ago by oligarchs. I also do not believe in the enslavement of humanity by corporate-sponsored, war machines. Because of this, I have decided to strike back. I make no excuses. What I have done is evil, pure and simple. I believe this is what it takes to get the world's attention. I have taken Sokovia by force, but I ask you, what nation hasn't been taken by force? The nations we see today were created through Imperialism. Through violence and warfare. I am merely taking part in that tradition, but since I am not part of the ruling class, it is considered a crime. I ask all of you watching this footage to ask yourselves if you are truly free. I know for a fact, many people do not consider themselves free, but they don't have the courage to stand up and fight. I am hear to show you that you can fight. Rise up, take back your freedom, and let the world know that you will no longer be enslaved."

The footage cuts off and the reporter returns. "Harrowing," he says to the camera, "Gideon has yet to make any further demands, but he has issued a press conference to be held next week and has an open invitation for journalists from around the globe. We will keep you up to date on further developments."