Chapter 32: Alliance
Harlem, New York
Zebediah Killgrave
"Must you resist so much?" asked the Purpleman, pushing his influence outward, grasping at their vulnerable minds, with Jessica under his control and now her paramour succumbing to his authority. They can help me advance my plans and control that criminal underworld of New York City that that bastard Kingpin denied me.
Purple-man walked from behind the desk, leaving Mable Stokes, owner and manager of Harlem Paradise, behind. It was easy for him to smile; he was fond of those who resisted.
It was especially true of this woman; she was just as willful as The Kingpin. Even so, she had acquired much experience; adversity made her a fighter, and she fought his puppeteering from every angle.
Mabel's eyes flittered as she quivered. His influence began to wane when he moved away, a testament to her refusal to submit. Seeing his finger tinged purple, he ran it across her hand, and her tremors stopped. Her body was still and unmoving, and she stared forward.
"You know, at one point, this was all a comical world for the entertainment of others," He laughed.
He remembers being aware of a writer, another world, voyeurs watching their every live, one panel, one page at a time.
Yet, something had changed; the world solidified, and realness, uniqueness, and freedom were present, a realness he wasn't aware of since he had powers.
He raised his arms wide, beckoning them. "Months ago, we all weren't real. Just someone's entertainment." He continued, seemingly talking to everyone, even the two; only Luke's eyes tracked his movements.
"Now," he adjusted his tie. "I'm free to choose; my biggest weakness was my lack of imagination, or was it the writer, the artist perhaps, confining, entrapping us?"
He continued onward, stopping ten feet from the entrance. "So, excuse my boring monologue. How about you two come out? I'd like to see what I'm working with. And, agent Misty Knight, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hesitated to stand out with the government sniffing around, but with you under my care, I'll take over your clandestine organization."
Special Agent Knight| Cole Stephens
Against the wall, her body tense, her will warped, everything became singular, she wanted to do as she had been told, and her mind became sluggish; foreign ideas and a sense of unnatural obedience entered her mind. Her struggle was evident; she barely turned and reached out to me, the animal part of her brain seeing me as her only recourse. I didn't deny her; I grabbed and pulled her into my embrace, allowing her to lean into me.
I had read about him in my past life, so his breaking the fourth wall wasn't surprising. He was among the few individuals who could peer outside their pages.
He claimed a change had occurred, and his time was around my arrival. Does this make his overzealous approach his fault? He shook his head, discarding the idea. He didn't ask to come here.
Cole knew the Purpleman was extremely dangerous. The man could compel almost anyone; the upper range of his ability was unknown, and theories of a possible perceivable ceiling were widespread.
However, the main problem was he didn't need to control everything, just a select group of influential individuals. He peered back into the room. He hoped the man hadn't reproduced; his children were even weirder.
He looked at Misty; she could lead him to Caulson and Fury. Purple-Man was a probability He never considered. What else is out there that deserves more of his attention?
In addition, it appears that he can manipulate his purple appearance. With his scrutinizing eyes, he almost knew that form increased his enhanced abilities, and whatever that touch did to Mabel Stokes, she was powerless to resist.
Risky. As far as he was concerned, this was the most dangerous individual he had ever met. He rubbed his index finger, feeling the ring's warmth reassuring him.
Cole stepped back, no longer paying attention to Villainous' monologue. He rambled to hide his abilities. His attention was drawn to the Agent's clouded and struggling eyes.
Every second she remained under its effect would solidify his control. Cole faced a difficult situation. She would try to apprehend him if she knew who he was, but he wasn't quite ready to reveal his true identity yet.
On the one hand, he didn't fear the controlling pheromone-emitting man; his ability to coerce and intimidate with fear was limited compared to Killgrave, but still, it afforded him a means to resist.
Despite the ability to cause fear, he hadn't used it much. However, he was aware of the complexities of the situation, and now that he had the ring, he was confident that these two options could counteract the Purple Man's influence. In addition, there was something else he vaguely understood: the System, or whoever it was, wouldn't allow his mind to be manipulated.
And on the other hand, he didn't want to show too many cards he held in his hand. He still needs to practice moderation and be reserved in his methods regardless of his windfalls. It was one thing to demolish a handful of security personnel, albeit rare and skillful Misty Knight could do similar if inclined. It was a whole other deal to level a city block with his powers. The following persona might grant some freedom and lessen the shackles of propriety.
He pulled up his interface and couldn't help but smile. He was so close, very close.
Persona(s)Jason Peter Todd- Red Hood 99%|100%
It's boss battle time! When he stepped out of this place, he would be on an entirely different level, which was his hope. His fist balled up. If he could get Superman, any version of his persona, he would immediately disregard a lot of his hesitation.
"What is happening?" Her voice cracked, her bravado gone.
She was about to fall over when I grabbed her and stopped to resist Purpleman's compulsion. She was exerting a great deal of energy. Her body was close to breaking.
'This is an exceptional level of grit.' Cole thought. If anyone could naturally resist that man, it would be someone like her.
"Who is he?" She gasped.
He sighed; what I was about to say and do would put me on a radar I didn't want to be on at this stage.
"Once upon a time, that man was a Yugoslav spy, full name is Zebediah Killgrave; he was exposed to unknown chemicals when a mission sent him to infiltrate an American military chemical refinery to steal an experimental new nerve gas, complications happened, and the Purple Man had been born."
He continued. "Using his formidable powers and natural charisma, he came to the United States; until a few months ago, the man had been a small nuisance, but something changed, and it's obvious he's pulling more into his abilities."
Story completed, he edged back toward the door, watching the self-absorbed madman monologue to his enthralled.
His presence unfolded; Cole had interpreted his power like a bat awakening, wings stretching outward, encompassing everything. Instinctively, he wrapped those wings around Misty; her cloudy eyes became startled at the sudden intensity of fear she felt.
Purpleman power would be gradually overridden by fear, the spike in adrenaline helping the victim fight against the compulsive orders. Unfortunately, this was all he could do: fear himself or be controlled by this rapist, a fate he wouldn't wish on anyone.
Misty Kight was brilliant; she understood Cole was like him or had a similar ability. This, too, was okay. Cole couldn't let him have her, and it seemed this problem steamed from his arrival; such a man couldn't run amok. No matter what, he would die tonight.
"You're a mutant." She blurted out, trying to take steps back, but her legs wouldn't work correctly.
"Is that relevant?" I retorted. My voice was deep and husky.
She shivered. The lady had balls, and the ability didn't seem to hamper her dominant personality. I quickly and slowly explained the plan to her and ensured she understood the implications if he could leave here with Luke under his thumb. And we both didn't want to even think about him controlling her.
He wondered if Nick Fury or Coulson would even suspect her under the influence of another. He shelved the thought if S.H.I.E.L.D couldn't stop HYDRA nor the Skrulls' infiltration into their ranks, then the Purple man ascent would be equally uncontested.
"Say I believe you," Misty said, taking furtive glances around her as the effects of my ability darkened the vicinity. I tried to hold onto the fragment of fear, but she still probably was seeing her worst fears.
"How were you going to take him down? His ability is dangerous."
"I'm immune," I said. I tapped at the utility belt I had summoned around my waist. I pulled out two retractable futuristic rebreather masks, purchased them, and stored them in the belt.
"The moment you leave from my vicinity, put the mask on." I looked into her eyes. "I would rather you leave and let me handle him, but you seem stubborn, so I won't bother trying to convince you; our time is limited.
"You get this on," he repeated a second time, presenting her with the tech; it wouldn't stop the pheromones from penetrating her body, but it would stop her from breathing it in, which was the quickest way for him to control someone, second only to his visual prowess.
Forstalling her questioning gaze. "You have moments, two minutes tops, before I must resort to other methods. It would be best if you didn't linger afterward. It would be disastrous if he were to take complete control of you both."
Her head nodded in understanding. "What are you doing to counter his control? Is it you who causing me to fear?" she asked as she covered her mouth and nose with the apparatus.
"Yes," I answered. As a result, my ability would be cataloged, and my threat assessment would be enhanced.
"Fine, Jason. She waved his wallet, which still contained his identification. "We'll do this your way, but you'll come with me afterward." The woman said firmly.