Persona: Hero x Villain System

Chapter 87: York Pride

A.T.C.Towers, Harlem, New York 

He remembered the order he had given Kaecillus. The Red Lantern had visited the youngest. He had been the most vocal and Jeremy’s greatest tormentor. 

Thinking about the older man, Cole was almost sure he was a mutant. The man could track any child that ran. Jeremy recalls his attempts, and somehow, he has always been caught. He thinks about that for a second, wondering if he should look into that some more. The ability to track was excellent; the Marauders had a member like that, too. 

A hardlight keyboard appeared before him. He hacked the hospital records, obtaining the man’s charts and medical history. His knowledge was paltry, but he could at least understand the terms beyond non-specialists. 

The replicator project needed another specimen; adding a mutant ability to the genome was pretty close. He messaged the excellent doctor, expecting a response for a while. Dr. Mishimoto didn’t care about bad people. He was sure the man would protest if Cole started kidnapping kids, but criminals? The Carmichael brother’s criminal history was solid and lengthy; how had they been able to operate and impressionable children could only be attributed to Marvel universe fuckery .

‘He didn’t show any mutation nor ability to defend himself when I encountered him, lord.’ His eavesdropped added nonchalantly.

Cole wouldn’t have gleaned what he was doing had he not spoken. “Turning the towers into a Sanctum? Will this affect the one in New York City?” 

‘It will not affect the others, but in case of an otherworldly attack, and if the others fell, this one could potentially hold back the hordes that will come forth to strip the world of life and will.’ 

‘Whatever.’ He thought. He closed the doors to his mind. The former mystic still blamed himself. Xavier hadn’t attacked him, but Cole was sure that Kaecillus would have ended Xavier easily. The sorcerers were adept astral projectors and dimensional hoppers. 

First, he needed to ascertain if the man had an activated X-gene or, like most humans, an unawakened one. ‘I wonder if the celestial were the cause of mutations here like the comics, or was it another driving force?’ He was a long way from that answer. He attached the file to the message he had rewritten for the doctor. Having a small team was terrific, but his presence around the city and the world still needed to be improved. 

He somberly pondered his morality as he contemplated the path he was going down. He began to clasp his hands but stopped and summoned a cigarette into his idle hands. With a flex of his will, he spoke the end before inhaling the cancerous stick in one breath. He reached for another one, feeling somewhat calmer this time, and took his time with it.

Legal had forwarded him documents the York’s had submitted: the usual inheritance suits and his updated emancipation. Technically, he was a ward of the state; Carmichael and the state cooperated with the orphanage. 

The York’s had been adamant that he should be returned home, a home that wasn’t with his biological family. Legal raised a concern: Why didn’t his father’s brothers and sisters raise their nephew? How did he become a ward of the state so quickly? He was sure the people involved were sweating at the glaring mistakes they made.

“Then these aunts and uncles weren’t even York’s. Yet, they held the reigns of his father’s company and subsidiaries.” He shook his head. Their mistake was not killing Jeremy. But he understood their reasoning. Jeremy’s continuous breath allowed them to concoct some form of stewardship. He was never meant to come of age. 

But when a credible judge saw the funds and the lives of his cousins, it was evident that abuse and mismanagement were occurring. How can he, the sole heir to a billion-dollar tech company, be regulated to a lifestyle that wasn’t even equal to his half-cousins? It was ludicrous. Only a protagonist could have such a backstory, but he was allowed a reprieve once the pictures and documents were submitted. 

It wasn’t so good with the Child Protective Agency. He still had a pending visit from his social worker soon. His She-Hulk was handling that side of the story. The social worker was unknown; he didn’t recognize her name but suspected an even deeper plot.

‘If not for Jeremy, he would have razed the whole thing to the ground.’ 

A lightbulb turned on inside his head, and an idea formed. “Alfred, I want to purchase the orphanage. Make it happen,” he said, a smile stretching across his face. 

“Sir, the orphanage is owned by a shell company related to York Industries. Do you wish to purchase the company and its subsidiaries?” Cole laughed and nodded his head. He had the funds to purchase some abandoned warehouses. 

“Did Legal Know?” He quickly sent an email. ‘What did they think?’ He thought. Had they expected him to roll over and play dead? 

“He was bound to discover their ties, but it’s hidden deeply under shells of shells. Sir, this purchase could lead to further attacks on you, heightened the possibility of you being discovered as Red Hood.” 

“The Hand has attacked me already, none returned; I’m sure next time they will see someone that can handle me and whoever they think is helping.”

“Sixty-seven percent probability The Hand suspects you’re in league with Red Hood based on relevant data.” 

“Acknowledge. Can you attempt to locate any areas where York or Rand Industries may be hiding secret Hand bases or illicit operations?” 

“Replicators are engaged and on standby, just in case. And locations are being sent to you now; each will likely be a front for something else.”

He read the pings. Their only saving grace was that he couldn’t locate The Hand. His Aunts and Uncles were a long game. He would make sure they had nothing. He latched his hand and rested as he thought about ways to underhand them. 

‘It’s time to strike.’ He would make them come outside if he can’t find where The Hand is hiding. He had some ideas, but everything came up either empty or abandoned. He felt like they were aware of him or someone hunting them. 

Cole was still unaware of the changes in the ancient demon-worshipping organization and the new threats against him. Jeremy York was still angered that The Hand had sent people to recapture him, hoping to make him capitulate his stake In York. 

Cole continued his work, exploring the shop and spending his increased wealth. He doubted acquiring Scorch, but the Pyro had been proving his worth. The fire bender had requested additional supplies. Bullseye had almost caused an outbreak in Jurez, but fortunately, he had listened to the more rational voices. Cole was surprised that none of his teams had suffered any fatalities. He had recorded everything he knew about The Brood and hoped they would succeed.

Cole approved the request; Boas drones were deployed constantly and could be easily purchased. Their tech was far from the Arkham Knight’s version used to combat Batman.

He nodded. “Is there any word from Anne?” He had missed the firebug. 

“Sir, she still needed to check-in. Do you want me to detour Boas to relocate her?”

Cole shook his head. Her commbadge was also left behind. She had known he could track her with that. He had to check his panel to ensure she was still under contract. 

She was there. She hadn’t betrayed him, at least. Their deal wasn’t restrictive; he had picked her up on a gut feeling. 

“We could Triangulate get whereabouts with her unique naquadah signature. He could make something to detect that, at least, the element alien and unique would be like a beacon to any moderately sufficient detector. 

He didn’t know what she was doing, but she wasn’t a prisoner. She could go where she pleased. 

“She knows to call if she needs me.” He was not peeved but didn’t dwell on the uncertainty. She had been distant since her recruitment from the Avengers. 

He caught Angela before she started to work on the new gear he had ‘magically appeared in the redoubt. He had made sure to explain to her about yesterday, the young lady wanting to be included in more things in the future. 

“We’re a team, right,” she asked hesitantly. 

“Yes. Didn’t I make a promise?”

She sighed and nodded. “Yeah, you would show me the universe. I’m still not wrapping my head around everything, but I can’t help but believe you with everything you showed me. 

“I want something from you.” She asked what he knew she would. 

“It’s not as simple as it seems to be. I promise to hand you one next time.” He had opened his mental shield to allow his Red Lantern to piggyback on the conversation. 

Was he handing over another Red Lantern Ring? He didn’t think it’d happen; if it did, he wasn’t sure he could control it. Angelica had the potential. She had been a victim of injustice but still lacked the will to see it carried out by her own hands.

They talked, and he withdrew the Lawgiver, explaining the weapon mechanics to her. He also had to add her to the High Judge list so she could touch one. 

“I’m not fond of guns, but,” she paused, raising her hand, and a ball of fire floated over her palm. I can do this so I won’t begrudge others their toys.” 

That made him happy. She was growing into her powers. He raised his hand and did the same. Her words also made him think of Anne.

“We talked. She and some of her classmates had been selected for the program. If you hadn’t told me about the Avengers, I would have guessed she was being recruited into a terrorist cell. 

Angelica’s statement about a possible terrorist cell at the school for baby Avengers made him curious. He considered that Anne could be captured or brainwashed by Hydra and replaced by the skrulls. He was sure that SHIELD was plagued with internal issues and was on the verge of collapsing.

The two were laughing, and Angelica was still curious about their differences. Cole had to explain them in detail, alongside Alfred, to clear up any misconceptions before he hung up the line. 

Cole shook his head. Her comm badge was also left behind. He could track her with that, triangulate her whereabouts with her unique naquadah signature, and make something to detect that, at least, the element alien and unique would be like a beacon to any moderately sufficient detector. 

Alfred’s investigation had been completed, and read over the information. Something about pipe busting: he accessed a drone and hovered above the school, trying to ascertain what had occurred. 

Teams were working earnestly, repairing walls and gaping holes in the building. His detective instincts enabled him to switch to different visual modes and investigate. 

Cole reached his office and contoured forward as the door slid open, showcasing countless monitors resembling Batcave computers. It wasn’t Wayne Tech, but the equally advanced Armacham technology had been installed. 

“Samples are en route to the Lex Corp. preliminary results suggest reptile species origin.” The Computer spoke. 

“Reptile? The Lizard? He tapped away at the Computer. He searched police reports, suspicious activities, and social media before displaying a blurry photo.

After losing his arm in an explosion, Dr. Curtis Connors dedicated his life to creating a serum using D.N.A. from reptiles to regenerate lost limbs. ‘The Lizard Serum has finally shown itself.’ He thought of sending the file and date uncovered to Dr.Mishimoto.