Chapter 22:Consequences
New York City, New York.
Principal Morita & Agent Cross
Minutes before Ms Hammers and the Security guard entered the office, two men sat, having an unpleasant conversation.
Special Agent Cross slid the brown manila folder across the desk. "So far, this individual has eluded all normal means of tracking and surveillance. Officials are at an impasse on how to apprehend the murderer. Here's what we know."
Morita stared at the folder with trepidation-laden eyes; his hand hovered above it. He had seen the reports from the first responders and heard of the gruesome details on the news, and he didn't expect to see the actual pictures. He hesitated and withdrew his hand. He sighed deeply and looked at his counterpart or handler as it had seemed of late.
Agent Cross didn't comment on the man's haggard countenance. "It's not something a man," he paused briefly, "a human, especially a father, should see. Unfortunately, we live in strange times, requiring us to dig deeper and stand taller because more of the unimaginable will occur frequently."
Morita nodded as the tardy bell rang overhead. He steeled himself and opened the folder. He stared down at the picture. A deep sadness overwhelmed him, but he steeled himself and dug into reserves he didn't know he held and cooled his inner turmoil. What he saw today would stay with him.
"Amanda Walenhelm," Morita said, identifying the girl. "Does the family know?" He asked, his eyes still glued on the crime scene photo.
"No. She will remain listed as a runaway. It'll go cold, eventually. The family will be compensated with a forgotten life insurance policy. Unfortunately, the details of her death cannot see the light of day."
Morita scoffed. "Money won't bring her back!"
"It won't. But what else can we do?" Admonished Agent across.
"This isn't…." Morita didn't get to finish before Special Agent Cross spoke over him.
"I understand. Believe me. This is just how it must be. How do you explain to the public an empowered being whom the police can't even catch is murdering young females."
Principal Morita shook his head. "This isn't what I signed on for, Agent. This is Lying and cover-ups. I'm not my father and not in that field; I'm not too fond of it personally."
Cross regarded the man. "How old is she?"
Morita's eyes stiffened momentarily before preventing, eyes downcast. "She will be fifteen next month."
Special Agent Cross nodded knowingly. "I'll place two agents on her."
"Discreetly," ordered Morita, agreeing wholeheartedly. He knew it was wrong and abused his power and connections, but what father wouldn't protect their children?
The Agent nodded. He looked down at the photos. He tapped away at his cell before placing it back in his inner pocket.
"It's done." Said the Special Agent.
"Yavon Jackson, Demi Lambarti." Morita finally answered the earlier question. Morita turned each over to avoid seeing their faces frozen in horror and pain upon their deaths.
"Midtown has three confirmed murders," Cross said.
Morita Interjected. "Six students are currently missing."
"Three other possible victims of the killer. Analysis of the killer's habits indicates he's only just beginning."
"He?" Morita deadpanned. "How sure are we." He placed the pictures back neatly in the folder.
"The next sheet is the lab results. It was taken from the last two victims." Special Agent Cross need not say more; Morita's hands balled around the lab report.
The door jerked open, and security personnel entered. "Sir, we got a fight, classroom M110."
Morita hissed and leaped from his padded chair, brushing past the pale Ms. Hammer's. 'Why is she with the guard." He thought.
"Who is it? Samuel again, or is it Danny? I will expel them, regardless of who their parents are."
The security guard shook his head as the two began to leave the front office, Ms. Hammers expertly keeping up with the pace in heels.
"Parker, Flash, and Jeremy." The guard responded.
Agent Cross ran up to the two-speed-walking man. "Flash? The quarterback," he asked, getting head nods. "Do we need to call a medic?"
"Get the nurse to meet us in the classroom." Morita gritted his teeth. He should have handled that kid, but he was their star athlete and the powers that be wanted to use kid gloves with the brute. He hoped Flash didn't hurt Parker. He didn't care much for the York boy, but he hoped he wasn't poorly hurt either.
Peter Parker
I froze as the room temperature dropped. An overwhelming arctic pressure superimposed itself—my natural sense afforded me by spider bite rung like never before. I shuddered and took three involuntary steps back, my mind devolving to its essential animalistic function.
Jeremy York's figure loomed over the wailing Flash. His compatriots sobered, and we're now planted against the far wall, each wanting to tear it down and flee.
"What is this," I said barely above a whisper, my mouth clenching and unclenching. My spider sense was ringing. I got accustomed to the tingling sensations, but this wasn't anything I had experienced before.
"Oh no, god no, Jermey." Her voice forced my eyes from the imposing back of Jeremy to the horror-stricken countenance of Liz Allen, who was the closest to him besides Flash. Her body was shuddering, and beads of sweat poured from her perspiring forehead.
Jeremy's head turned slightly, and he stared at Liz. His eyes were red rubies. I blinked, and they were back to the steel grey eyes I was accustomed to him having.
'What was that?' I asked myself. 'Is he like me? He has to be.'
Liz shuddered and kneeled against the floor, her hands covering her mouth as she cried out for him to stop.
I looked around, my neck rigid. Gwen and Harry were moving back with the other shouting students. I needed to do something. Thankfully, they weren't inside whatever this was. Whatever ability he possessed was supernatural.
I needed to do something; I had to. Before I could act, Mary Jane moved forward, her eyes unwavering in sheer focus. Her red hair was sweaty and plastered to her head, and her hand struck Jeremy's face.
"Mary, No!" I roared in horror and anger and pushed myself forward. He's like the rest of the criminal, hurting the innocent. I won't let him harm MJ.
Jeremy York
Rage wasn't new to me. The pressure I've longed to notice inside me intensified in mere seconds that used to take me entire nights of cleaning from the deprived streets of New York City to accumulate.
I glared at the whimpering boy, and anger roiled off of me so palpable that a telltale sign of haze blurred my eyes. I raised my free arm, and my fist balled. '
Do not think to bully me.' I said internally...
Suddenly. My face felt a tingle. I looked at Mary Jane, who stood defiant before me. And I felt Parker. He was about to act...
Before I acted, that voice appeared. In the past, it was barely discernible, but now I could make out the chant.
Gwen had moved forward, breaking away from her friend Harry Osborn's grasp. Her voice ushered memories not of my own making. My stomach fluttered with butterflies and hunger for Jeremy's crush. Yet, she wasn't here for him, and the relics of his being churned. She was afraid. But she came forward with Peter.
Osborn sneered at me, but the coward remained behind. I turned my head, and our eyes met.
Peter's eyes, too, held longing, preordained love; it caused my heart to sink. The cold, calculating persona soon reinserted itself. I released Flash's crushed hand. Mary grappled with her boyfriend as she pulled him back from me. Her hands were on his chest.
Peter appeared. His face was a mask of determination. He grabbed me by the collar. The strength he used was great as he almost lifted me from the floor. I took a step back, diminishing his hold on my shirt. Ironically, I wouldn't be able to stop him based on strength, but I had technique. I twisted his wrist, my thumb expertly tapping at points that made him release me.
He sneered, his offending arm numb from my tapping his pressure points. He regarded me as a threat, more so by my movements separating us. I smiled, not one of pleasure but one you would think a shark would make if possible, and I stepped forward.
"You don't want this man." He said, his eyes drifting toward the sobbing Mary Jane as she helped Flash.
I laughed aloud. "You got the gall to fight me but won't defend yourself against that waste of air."
"You.." He sputtered my words, taking the wind from his sails.
I interrupted. "I thought maybe you were holding on to your past and didn't want to trudge down certain paths, but alas, I was mistaken."
"You don't know me, man!" He barked.
"I know you more than you know yourself. You're no hero, Peter Parker, and soon you will learn to act before consequences pile atop your morals."
His grandfather's death will prove my words correct. To think I was a fan.
Principal Moira, security, the school nurse, and the S.H.I.E.L.D Agent entered the room when Parker neared me.
"Break it up! Thompson, Parker, my office now." He said authoritatively.
"Morita, His hand is broken! He's going to need an ambulance." The Ms. Hammers hissed, her eyes landing on me.
He whirled on me, his face unreadable, but I could discern the annoyance in his eyes. "Jeremy York, report to my damn office. Agent, please make sure he's there when I get this settled."
The bell blared from the state-of-the-art intercom systems overhead.
The Agent walked toward me, but his posture was loose; anticipation sparked in his eyes. He was weary of me. "Let's go, pal." He said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I ignored his squeeze, and his eyes squinted as he continued to apply pressure.
I looked around the room and sighed. My mask slipped at the worst possible time. Only time will tell how the events of today played out.
Principal Morita's voice rose over the muttering students as I was escorted out under the watchful eyes of the Special Agent.
"I want statements. And if anyone lies about anything, you will be suspended."
The system chimed inside my head, and the messages floated before me.
System message: Integral Individual Crippled. Nemesis: Flash Thompson. Rewards: +Villain alignment. $150,000.
System message: The host has obtained a bonus from a hidden milestone. + Red Lantern Ring.
System message: Due to the host's uncontrollable mind state, Rage, hate, and anger emotions will be channeled through the Power Ring.
I stopped in shock and wonder, causing the Agent to take steps back as I became rooted. The ring materialized on my right index finger, and I felt it click in place.
"With blood and Rage of crimson Red, ripped from a corpse so freely dead, together with our hellish hate, We'll burn you all. That is your fate!" I intoned to the chagrin of the Special Agent.
"What did you say, Kid." Special Agent retreated, his hand slowly reaching for the hidden holstered pistol on his waist.
"The power of the Crimson Red can lead your soul away from the dead and heal the deepest wounds of hate. Let no one else decide your fate." My mind and innermost self reconfigured, and I shuddered.
I shook my head and massaged my temples. "Let's go, Agent," I said, walking past the startled man.
I pulled up my status sheet and was amazed at the changes. My persona percentage increased, and I was nearing completion. My strength also increased. I was guessing I was nearing the peak of [Enhanced Strength] and nearing the beginning stages of [Superhuman Strength].
I had to close the sheet as the Agent and enter the principal office. He didn't speak. He only stared at me, his eyes roaming over me. He was suspicious now.
I remember the chanting when I grew angry; the rage that burned and scorched my flesh was calling out to the ring. I raised my hand, admiring the red circle that fit snugly on my ring finger.
His eyes stopped on my finger, and his face went through countless emotions as his mind raced. He refrained from asking the question, and we just stood there until the door slammed open.
Before he entered, I already sensed him, sensed the Rage roiling inside, beckoning me to pull at its seams; the world wasn't black and white anymore but red, bloody red.
Name: Cole Stephens
Known Name: Jeremy York
Race: Inhuman Mutant
Alias- Red Hood
Alignment: +Neutral
System-Bank: $224,567
Minion(s) Bullseye-Coerced 21%|100%
Angelica "Angel" Jones- Contracted
Persona(s)Jason Peter Todd- Red Hood 99%|100%
Attributes
Intelligence: +Moderate Tier 3
Strength: +Moderate Tier 4
Speed: Moderate Tier 3
Durability: -Moderate Tier 3
Energy Projection: +Potential Tier 8
Fighting Skills: +Advanced Tier 4
Gear-Inventory
Red Hood Costume
Red Lantern Ring
Batman Utility Belt
Clark Kent's Glasses
Scarecrow Gear
Orichalcum Knives
Nth-Promethium Katana
Dual Pistols [9mm rounds]
Dual Modified| Sniper Mod|M1911 [.45]
Captain Cold's Gun.
Fear Toxin
Smoke Grenade
Pocket Explosives
High Powered Taser
Bulk Medical Bag
Bulk Duffle Bag [Electronics]
Kinetic Hammer
Super-bike
Black Hawk [Damaged]
Tumbler Batmobile
Abilities
[Emerging] X-Gene
[Unexposed]Terrigenesis
[+1] Holder of the Hero-Villain System.
[+5] Criminology: Deception. Enhanced Investigation.
[2] Occultism: The Host is knowledgeable on various mystical concepts due to his training with the All-Caste.
[0] Enhanced senses: The host has supernatural senses, allowing them to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel better than an average species member.
[+3] Skilled marksman and expert tactician.
[+4] Expert martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant. Highly trained in Dim Mak.
[+3] Acute understanding and utilization of high-tech equipment, Bioengineering, and advanced weaponry.
[+4]Business Management: Wayne Enterprises, Lexcorp, Iceberg Lounge.
[0]Computer Operations: Computer Hacking.
[+8] Enhanced strength, speed, and durability due to exposure to the Lazarus Pit and your latent mutant and inhuman metamorphosis. Chi reinforcement.
Red Lantern Ring: Red Lantern Ring powers are fueled by rage. Furthermore, unlike the more scientific Green Lantern Ring, the Red Lantern Ring uses some magic in its construction. A Red Lantern's ring is one of the most potent weapons in the known Universe. Red Lantern's ring can affect and use fundamental forces of the known universe, including electromagnetic energies such as gravity, radiation, heat, light, and powerful blasts of concussive force. The ring can also create fields of power formed from a red energy spectrum. The limitations of such use are the skill, knowledge, and imagination of the user.
[+3] Inhuman Optimal Healing Factor: Granted by the system and reinforced by burgeoning Chi abilities, you can heal from extreme mental or bodily trauma in minutes.
[Limited] Rage Suppression: Said to be a rarity amongst Red lanterns, holders of this power need not the baptism of the blood ocean. You're able to control the Red Lantern ring's degrees of intensity.
Fear Inducement: Your presence has shown itself as a fragment of fear. Unraveling your presence is now a physical thing. The target's perception may be altered, causing them to see their environment as ominous and the Host as dark and foreboding or even as a monster. This is considered a mutant ability