Chapter 45: Kara' Kesh
Cole Stephens|Anne Weying
SoHo, Harlem
The Hara' Kesh was constructed long ago by the Ashrak (Goa'uld for "hunter"), who, by his limited estimation, were assassins of great renown.
The hidden device allowed them to use the deadly abilities of a Kara Kesh without overt signs of them being discovered as a Goa'uld. Its construction remained exclusively among the Ashrak, who guarded its manufacturing secrets jealously.
The Kara is triggered by the brain wave pattern of their master. It could accomplish many operations that a Kara Kesh could achieve, such as energy conduits, kinetic blasts, and damage to the nervous system of living beings.
However, due to their smaller size, they could not generate shields and were short-ranged; they could only be used on objects up to 5 feet away.
"I can handle-"
"They're are here for me." He interrupted.
She grumbled, folding her arms.
"Stand back and enjoy the show." He ordered. Anne had no fighting ability; he doubted these amateurs could pose her a threat, especially with the alien weapon in her hand. Still, he didn't want her to come to unnecessary harm. He would rectify her fighting capabilities in the future.
"So much to do, so little time." He murmured. "If this was the comics, he was due a time skip."
He had left the sole assassin guild female of the triad on the ground in a heaving wreck.
System message: Hired Female Kiddnaper Incapacitated. Assassin Guild Relationship: Heightened. York Family Relationship: Murderous. Rewards: $10,000.
The system made it impossible for those who conspired against him to remain hidden.
The hand had ordered his family to deal with him, and they contracted with one of the guilds. Assassin Guild wouldn't stop coming for him. Once the contract was placed, the mark had only one recourse: survive.
A savage smile stretched across his face. Imagine the rewards and money he would receive from decimating the organization. They had no idea who they had been set against.
He noted a family of four tourists; the New Yorker in him, spotting a mark instantly, turned the corner, strolling down the historic block of Old Harlem. Their little girl had pigtails and swung between her parents' arms; the older son scanned around excitedly, taken in the sights. He and I locked eyes the moment guns were drawn.
Sometimes, heroic deeds were a logical alternative instead of a moral dilemma.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Gunshots erupted from the pistols, drowning out the early noise of an awakening Harlem.
He had long grown beyond needing to be weary of artillery, especially from small caliber guns. He hoped his assessment rose and the guild sent more vital members after him.
The Naquadah in his bloodstream activated. The Kara ' Kesh around his wrist and forearm grew warm, and the jeweled centerpiece, a large ruby of some kind, glowed brightly at his mental manipulation.
Palm facing the assailants, Cole gestured imperceptibly. The bullets meant to kill him slowed before becoming trapped in a barely discernible wall of energy.
The air grew warm around Cole as sparks ignited into embers as the relics of Jeremy York's hatred and anger intensified.
Theemokinesis was Jeremy's power, and it seemed it was attached to his anger and resentment, the intensity so grand it threatened to be unleashed at a moment of unbridled rage.
He smoldered it with its opposite, cooling the rage that lapped at his inner being.
Once barely contained, his rage became fuel to his mutant ability.
Jeremy wanted blood. He assuaged himself with the knowledge that it was coming.
He smiled down at the man, standing on the steps of the company that would inadvertently change the world. Their guns clicked, bullets spent, weapons empty.
Would this be an everyday occurrence? He steps outside, and someone attacks him. Cole wondered to himself.
He needed security. Not for his protection but to ward off idiots who would attack him so brazenly.
Bullseye connections were extensive, and the unit he requested would be here soon.
He would place them under contract to ensure his security and secrets remain as close to his chest as possible.
Fear radiated from his assailants, unaware that the teen they had been contracted to capture or kill if caught became impossible to hold such capability.
Cole's new persona sneered at the unit that dared to take him out with such weak tactics.
Cole unraveled his fear to a degree he hadn't before. Cole went from a feared individual to a monstrous figure in the minds of the two men. When he unraveled his ability, he became the center of the targeted person's deepest fear.
The amateur assassins let loose a strangled cry that no adult should be capable of—the two experienced fear without recourse, feeding from the darkest fears ingrained in their psyche.
Pity, he thought to himself as he strolled down the steps. The unfortunate family had huddled behind an abandoned car.
The bullets held aloft by the new technology he acquired turned red before splattering to the ground in molten slag.
Try as he might, he hadn't been able to spare them, at least not against it all. They, too, saw fear, and the way the mother was clinging to her kids, he could deduce what she had seen.
The little girl stared at him with horror-filled eyes, and he honestly hated himself for a moment. He reached toward her before her brother, the eldest boy, moved between them.
"I'm sorry." He said, meaning it.
"We should call the cops-" Cole cut his eyes to the father, his stare explaining his displeasure. He summoned two items, one a lollipop, causing the family to gawk at him. The little girl looked between her parents and him before she took the candy.
Anne had followed behind him. He nodded toward her, handing her a suitcase. She had enough imagination to assume what it was.
Telltale signs of a system prompt wanting to be previewed flashed annoyingly in his peripherals.
System-generated Radiant Mission Updated: [Variable] The Yorks in name only have placed a bounty on your day Persona head at the behest of The Hand.
A substantial reward has been placed on your head, dead or alive, and information about you has been disseminated amongst those in the know.
Reeling from many defeats, The Hand has begun scrutinizing all avenues. Your Day and Night's actions have drawn scrutiny, and questions are being asked. Tread carefully; identities are becoming scarce commodities for you.
Assassins will come for your head. Do you kill those that come for your head, or do you spare them?
York (Amateur) assassin defeated (3). Innocent Family group saved (4).
Reward(s): 85,000. Nightwing Escrima Sticks. Deadshot Sniper Rifle TAR-21s modified.
Was this supposed to scare him? He and Jeremy both welcomed them to try.
The system warning had been accepted. He took it for what it was. The most significant benefit of the system was he could become his Personas at least once he passed the half mark with his new persona, which would be at twenty-five percent. And he had burned Jason Todd.
Or had he? He had some ideas to utilize the infamy. He was sure Broker was gleefully selling Red Hood's identity.
The rewards weren't splendid, but he did get free stuff for barely breaking a sweat.
She had paid off the family and even called them a ride. How nice of her, he thought.
Around the corner, the family hugged and cried. The ordeal was overwhelming, but the mother and father turned out to be realists and accepted the large sum of money.
He had placed a drone on them just in case they went to the cops, but with the amount of money that they took from him, he doubted it.
He would reward Anne. She had followed his orders and hadn't questioned him. That showed him she was ideal for what he had in store for her.
Anne had returned to his side. Her presence had changed. It's subtle but noticeable. He studied her closely.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
Anne smiled, her eyes on the Kara' Kesh. She wanted the other piece, not satisfied with the ring.
"I feel invigorated." She said enthusiastically.
"You did good." He praised.
"How good." She teased.
"I like it when you do as told." He said. "And I'm not against rewarding you. First, let's get these three inside."
"Can I do it?" Anne asked, her thumb toying with the gem on the ring.
Did the Naquadah come with genetic memory? He asked, but the mere thought had reminded him.
He looked at her, realizing her sudden change in aura. Being a chi manipulator allowed him to sense minute detail in a person's energy.
"Are you capable?" He asked if the device injection granted her understanding.
She nodded, tapping the side of her head vigorously. "I don't know who or what you're, but if you can give me stuff like this, I'll be whatever you want me to be."
He had been shocked at her admission. His ability expanded, grasping at her declaration.
"Deal." He said, his voice taken on a quality associated with the fragment's contract-making ability.
"Remember, we need them to lead us to the others, maybe even the family member that sent them. I won't be a person that can be targeted without recourse."
"I'm connected with Angel right now; she's going to assist; she also wanted to know if she can come to the A.T.C. building."
Another surprise. Did Angelica discover something with the three? I shrugged. Her projects didn't concern me. Cole just wanted her onboard because she was powerful.
"All of you are welcome to any of my facilities—no need to ask for permission."
Anne grabbed the men by their legs and drugged them quite quickly. So, the mineral must have been more than what he suspected.
Cole balled his hand, trying to discern any upgrade. He didn't feel stronger, but maybe it worked differently for him with his unique physiology.
His knowledge was limited to his parameters, the system afforded insight wasn't one hundred percent, and the more he gained, the more he understood.
"Anne, I'll deal with her." He said, stopping her. She had paused by the third member, trying to determine how she would move her too.
No. He didn't care about harming women. He just wanted her for something else.
The two had walked inside the A.T.C. building; everything was in place, even a sign-in pad for security.
The woman fought in his grasp. Her threats came up short as she couldn't even harm him.
Anne had less trouble than he did. She gave him a strange look as he directed her to handle them in whatever room of her choosing.
"You know I've never done this right," Anne said, standing before the elevator.
He looked at her. "Me either." Your tablet should have instructions on it.
Anne nodded; her resolve in what she was about to do was beginning to shake.
"I've never taken a life," she said hesitatingly. "I just like burning things afterward."
I didn't expect her to kill them. I had no qualms with it, but I didn't require them to be my hitmen, especially when I could do it myself.
"Then don't kill them. The basement has holding rooms. Leave them there until we decide otherwise."
"You won't be mad?"
The elevators opened simultaneously; I looked at her, smiling. "No, Anne, I won't be mad. Get what you can from them; let Angelica help you."
She nodded, her smile returning. "What about my rewards? I don't want you to forget."
He chuckled, dropping the female assailant, who took the opportunity and darted for the door.
Cole summoned the kara' Kesh and the other recent rewards. Dead shot rifle was useless. He had Todd's special weapon already. Nightwing sticks were useful, but he preferred the crowbar.
Anne had scooped up the items, comically pushing the barely conscious men into the elevator before it closed.
He turned from the elevator. The assassin rammed into the doors, unable to open them.
Cole chuckled as he stepped toward the trapped woman. She turned, readying herself to fight.
Seeing his calm smirk, her fight fled. "Please. I will tell you what you want to know." She said after he raised his hand toward her.
"You will tell me what I need regardless."