Chase of Piranha Jones

Chase of Piranha Jones
Previous	Inauguration of the Shirley Chisholm Complex
Next	Duel at High Bridge
Date	August 28, 2017
Location	Harlem, New York City, New York
Result (Outcome)	Piranha Jones is kidnapped by the Stylers
Combatants
Luke Cage
Stylers
Commanders
Luke Cage
Sheldon
Casualties
-
-

"Flood the streets, and he'll float to the surface. You hear?"
"Yeah, skipper."
"And, Sheldon, hear me now. No weakness. No excuses."

―Bushmaster and Sheldon^[src]

The Chase of Piranha Jones was the Stylers's hunt for Piranha Jones in order to gain information about Mariah Dillard's financial assets.

Background

"They want Piranha because they must be after the money. That fool has access to every dime we earned on that Atreus Plastics deal."

―Shades to Comanche^[src]

Piranha Jones obtained an insider information on Atreus Plastics developing a lucrative product, which attracted the attention of Glenn Industries that sought to purchase the company. Jones shared it with Mariah Dillard and advised her to buy a controlling interest in Atreus Plastic, as well as convincing Mark Higgins to approve the merger with Glenn Industries, which could make her billions of legitimate dollars. Dillard agreed, since she was looking into moving on from crime and becoming a legitimate businesswoman, so she gave Jones a power of attorney over her assets, so he could set up a Cayman Islands company for their plan, and forced Higgins to allow the merger to happen.

Around that time, Bushmaster returned to New York City, seeking to bring down Dillard and the Stokes Crime Family, taking over the whole Harlem. He started by killing Nigel Garrison and recruiting his Yardies into his new gang, the Stylers, and finished a gun deal Dillard had with Garrison. With the money received from the Stylers, Dillard invested in Atreus Plastic before the merger happened, and as Jones predicted, her investments returned tenfold. With that, she was able to leave the gun business behind and launched her own Family First Initiative, which resulted in the opening of Shirley Chisholm Complex. However, Bushmaster was only bidding his time and lulling Dillard into a false sense of security before taking everything away from her, targeting Jones for that end.

Meanwhile, Luke Cage landed himself into a complicated situation after his attack on Cockroach Hamilton ended up in Cage inflicting significant injuries on him. Hamilton approached Donovan and Partners to sue Cage for damages, claiming that Cage assaulted and almost killed him, while dismissing the fact that it happened while Hamilton himself was beating Drea Powell. Represented by Foggy Nelson of Hogarth, Chao & Benowitz, Cage sat down with Hamilton and Benjamin Donovan, and the latter stated that he is willing to settle without the court, but only if Cage pays out within 72 hours. Unable to come up with a fast enough way to get the money, Cage and Nelson were approached by Jones who sought to have Cage at his upcoming party, so Cage agreed for $150,000.

Chase

"Mr. Cage! You can release the likkle guppy. Or we war. The choice is yours."

―Sheldon to Luke Cage^[src]

Luke Cage attended Piranha Jones' party, taking pictures with the partygoers, until Jones called for him to take the stage and decided to shoot at Cage with the gun for entertainment. Cage was against that, concerned that somebody might get hurt if the bullet ricochets off his bulletproof skin, but Jones ignored him. Suddenly, the Stylers that were present at the party, opened fire at Cage and Jones, so Cage had to jump in to stop them, surprisngly, with Shades' help.

As chaos ensued and the partygoers rushed out of the building in panic, the Stylers were able to get their hands on Jones and drag him out, intending to kidnap him. They shoved Jones into their car and tried to drive away, but Cage was able to intercept them and take out the Stylers and get Jones out. He demanded him to explain why would Bushmaster need him, but Jones had no idea why the Stylers were after him and begged Cage to protect him, to which Cage reluctantly agreed, though not for free. As Cage and Jones were running through the streets from the Stylers, Sheldon told him that he can go if he does not let them have Jones, it would mean war.

As Sheldon spotted them at the rooftop, Cage dragged Jones away and threw him to the distant rooftop to escape from the Stylers, although Jones injured his leg while landing. Cage was able to take out the Stylers after them and demanded Sheldon to explain Bushmaster's plans on Jones. As Sheldon refused to say anything, Cage knocked him out and retreated with Jones, as more Stylers kept approaching. Sheldon later reported to Bushmaster about their failure and he ordered to take Irie Taxi cabs and search the whole Harlem, as he needed Jones by any means necessary. Sheldon carried out his order and the Stylers flooded the Harlem streets, asking around about Cage's whereabouts and checking every part of the streets they could reach.

Luke Cage hiding with Piranha Jones

The two took shelter at Uptown Theater, and Cage considered abandoning Jones due to his unpleasant attitude, even though Jones kept begging him and promising money in return for his help. Cage ultimately had to stay, since the Stylers were lurking too close, and helped Jones with his sprained ankle while also expecting him to explain his dealings with the Stokes Crime Family. Jones told him the details of the Atreus Plastics deal he helped Dillard with and explained that he had access to Dillard's finances, which Cage realized to be the reason Bushmaster wanted him. Cage then changed his mind and instead of taking Jones to his private jet so he could escape, he decided to stay the night in theater before taking Jones to the New York City Police Department, as he could be the key to bringing Dillard down.

The Stylers try to abduct Piranha Jones

The next day, Cage called Misty Knight and told her about Jones, who had enough information to bring down the Stokes Crime Family and Bushmaster, but warned her not to go after them, since the Stylers were patroling the streets and could tail her. At that moment, the Stylers found the theater and broke inside where they tried to drag Jones out, but he was able to call Cage for help. Cage was able to fight off the Stylers' reinforcement and save Jones, breaking down the wall and escaping with him to Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Cage asked James Lucas to look after Jones while he deals with Bushmaster, however, Jones ended up running away in an attempt to charter a flight to Teterboro and escape New York City, but ended up being caught by the Stylers.

Aftermath

Luke Cage is defeated by Bushmaster

"Well, he left about a half hour after you did. Said something about chartering a jet at Teterboro and calling his mama. He tried to call you, but you didn't pick up."
"You had one job."
"I serve the Lord. God bestows on us free will. Greatest gift he's given. Now, your friend decided to use that when he walked out of that door."

―James Lucas and Luke Cage^[src]

Using a phone he stole from one of the Stylers, Luke Cage called Bushmaster and challenged him for a one-on-one with Piranha Jones as a prize, but Bushmaster would have to back off from him and Harlem if he were to lose. Bushmaster accepted the challenge and squared off with Cage at High Bridge, but as Cage was getting an upper hand, Bushmaster used a paralysis powder to incapacitate him and knock him into the river. Cage recovered eventually and made his way to Mount Olivet Baptist Church, where James Lucas informed him that Jones left soon after Cage and Lucas was unable to stop him. Meanwhile, Mariah Dillard ordered the Stokes Crime Family to find Jones, as he was too valuable to be left in Bushmaster's hands.

Bushmaster threatens Piranha Jones

The Stylers brought Jones to Irie Taxi Garage, where Bushmaster and Sheldon demanded him to access Mariah Dillard's bank accounts and transfer everything she had to them. Jones did not want to do that and warned Bushmaster that Cage will come after him, but Bushmaster was not afraid of that and threatened Jones into complying. As he finished the transaction, Bushmaster killed Jones and left his severed head in a fish tank, where it was eventually found by Cage and Misty Knight. Tom Ridenhour approached Dillard and warned her that they now have the evidence of her being involved in money laundering and offered to make a deal, but Dillard refused.

Realizing that Bushmaster took everything she had, Dillard ordered Alex Wesley to collect the cash she had at her brownstone and escape from the city with Tilda Johnson. However, Bushmaster broke inside and confronted Dillard and Johnson, intending to finish what he started and finally kill the last Stokes, avenging his mother. He had Dillard tied up and gave Johnson a chance to leave, as he prepared to burn the brownstone with Dillard inside. Johnson stayed behind and tried to get her mother out of the fire, before Cage arrived and rescued her, taking both of them to the police for protection.