Chapter 53: School Event
Name: Cole Stephens
Known Name: Jeremy York
Alias- Red Hood
Race: Inhuman Mutant
Physique: Unique Physiology
Alignment: -Neutral
System-Bank: 1,098,456
Minion(s) Bullseye—Contracted
Anne Weying—Contracted
Kevin Lourdes-Contracted
Legal—Contracted
Angelica "Angel" Jones—Contracted
Kaecilius- Red Lantern-Holder
Annalee-Corerced 9%/100%
Morlocks-Coerced 5%/100%
* Leech-Protectee
* Annalee-Corerced 9%/100%
Persona(s)Jason Peter Todd- Red Hood 103%|100%
Daniel Kilgore- Priest - Haunt 27%|50%
Kurt Kilgore- Special Agent - Haunt 22%|50%
Annalee had come around fast when she knew her current behavior wouldn't be tolerated. Alfred had been tasked with querying the system
His threat had been warranted. The woman would have undoubtedly caused him an ungodly amount of problems. And her ability was hard to deal with. His people would be okay with the Yautja Bio-helmets, but others would be affected.
He also wanted to wean the kid away from her. Alfred had been tasked with showering the shop and internet for a viable method to control the moderately powerful empath gifts.
His threat had been met with her falling under coercion. Unlike a contract, a coerced person had harsher strictures, and mind control was one of them.
He promised the kid a home and protection. His first order of business was solving the physical mutation of their x-gene. He was aware that their malady wasn't normal. He couldn't place his hand on who or what caused it.
The scientist or entity was another threat out there amongst the many that bore down on this world. His reason for accumulating internal and external power was based on the threats that could and would affect him.
Anne had finished with her prisoner. He was glad she was willing to assist him. She had pleaded to pick him up. He laughed at that, knowing she wanted to drive one of the company cars, but he hadn't refuted her and waited patiently outside the downtown station.
The battles with the Morlocks had pushed his Persona Percentage to half completion, which allowed him to obtain another identity he could muster and a third one on the way.
He had left a dozen Terrain Boas drones underground in hopes of Maruder's return. Firestar, becoming indispensable, was already en route to the tunnel system. Her bleeding heart saw some form of kindness with the mutants, and she had wanted to soften his blow and be his human resources person.
'Should I spring my idea on her?' He questioned internally. He wanted her to be his CEO. She was young but also the only one of them outside of Dr.Mishimoto who wasn't either a criminal or a student.
He had waited long enough and brought the prompts to the forefront. His mental fingers crossed.
System message: Two Mutated Mutants Killed. X-men relationship- Strained. Rewards: + Villain alignment. T. Spheres.
Cole smiled. Another technology had landed in his lap.
Michael Holt created the spheres and responded to his mental and vocal commands. Cole summoned one and immediately noted the neural connection being established.
He recalled Mister Terrific once described them as "curious" about something, implying they possess artificial intelligence.
At least he knew they did have burgeoning intelligence in them. He ordered Alfred to delve into them and discover what level he was dealing with.
He would have whooped in wonder but didn't since Anne was busy talking. He used his parallel minds to communicate while going through the prompts.
Spheres had many functions and capabilities, like holographic projection, laser grid creation, live cameras, and data networking links. They can also unlock electronic locks, carry Mr. Terrific's weight to allow him to fly, and implode on command to knock out a target. Finally, they can expel electric charges and be used as projectiles.
System message: Battlefield Healer defeated. X-men relationship-Strained. Morlock Relationship-Feared. Rewards: Chemistry Ability.
System message: Leader and Lieutenants defeated. X-men relationship-Strained. Morlock Relationship-Feared. Rewards: Blue Beetle Bug
He burst out laughing, causing Anne to be curious about what was funny. He raised his palm and told her to activate her lenses, and he created a 3-D representation of the craft.
Her eyes practically glowed. The excitement and her greedy gaze took Cole back. She rubbed his thigh teasingly.
"That is so cute. Let me and Anne have it." She didn't ask him, almost demanded it, by her inflection.
He didn't remove her hand, quite liking the physical contact.
"Sure." He relented. He didn't care for the super-theme things. His excitement was the Kord tech that had popped into his storefront.
Alfred had access to his system, too, so the artificial intelligence was actively working behind the scenes, significantly alleviating the load on himself
System-generated mission updated: The Host has come into contact with members of the Morlock community.
Ingratiate yourself with the Morlocks and help them with their miserable lives, potentially finding helpers for your burgeoning group of extraordinary individuals.
Your choice of approach has mas marred your arrival. Mission parameters have changed.
Reward(s) +Villain Alignment. $60,000. Penguin Umbrella.
The Penguin is known as the Man of a Thousand Umbrellas, as he nearly always carries one.
It may look like an ordinary rain protector, but it was also a potent device with built-in weaponry such as guns, missiles, sword blades, laser guns, flame-throwers, and acid-spraying devices.
He also had some used for modes of transportation, such as ones with a series of built-in spinning blades to use as a mini helicopter or a jet-powered engine to ride as a broomstick.
Sometimes, when he opened up his umbrella, it had a built-in flight module that could carry him into the air like a hot air balloon.
'At least it'll look good with a tuxedo.' He thought, removing it from his hammerspace and observing it. It didn't have artificial intelligence but responded to voice prompts. Anne's eyes peeked over, wondering where he was getting his things.
He kept the system secret; he always will, but he allowed them to theorize his methods for gaining unknown items out of the blue.
[+10] Fear Inducement: Possessing two fragments has altered your presence; now, your shadow may attack your enemies' minds. The physical manifestation of your presence takes the form of a demonic bat. The target under your fear inducement perception may be altered, causing them to have waking nightmarish dreams pulling taut on their deepest fears. You can now affect the waking and spiritual domain, causing the Host to become ominous, dark, foreboding, or even monstrous. This is considered a mutant ability.
His shadow could now attack. He didn't like that. He wanted more insurance. But who could he complain to?
The other prompts were useless—monetary and relationship changes.
He placed the prompts from his mind, concerned about the last-minute update on an old quarry of his. Cole didn't expect his quarry to bear so much fruit.
The news had changed things. The man who was supposed to become Ironfist had been captured by The Hand, hadn't experienced the island, and had not developed the training to become the green arrow.
"Here you go, handsome." He turned and took the offered punch from Anne. They had made it to the event almost thirty minutes ago, and he still was wrapping his mind around the development.
"It's not spiked," she added.
He took a sip and smacked his lips. "No need for alcohol when it's diabetic-inducing sugar contents."
"Right," Anne's face scrunched cutely as she looked into her plastic cup, contemplating his words, taking him seriously.
"I should spike it. I'll be back." Anne had hurried off, stopping to speak to future classmates as the party continued.
Cole and Anne had made it to the school-sponsored event at the Baxter Building. He had observed the same monitors at the doors, and Alfred had confirmed that they were machines designed to detect abnormalities or mutations.
'Thank god it wasn't Trask Industries tech.' He said inside his head.
Cole's arrival hadn't been met with applause; he had been ostracized, and all his work of repairing Jeremy York's persona had been lost.
He had noticed Liz and her avoidance of him when he moved around the room. Few spoke, and seldom did it go beyond anything more. The agent and Principal Moira had watched him like a hawk. The principal gaze was complicated.
'I wonder what that's about.' He thought.
"Jeremy York?" he was brought from his musing by an official-looking man. He grasped the man's extended hand, acutely observing his black fingernails.
Smiling, he said. "Embracing my emo, you know?"
"Ah. Yes. What joy it is to be young."
He coughed. "I am with Hammers-"
"No, thank you, sir. This isn't a business event but a social gathering of students. If you want to talk business, contact my secretary."
The man looked taken aback. His report on his was outdated. But before he could continue, Cole had strolled away.
"Alfred, if I'm not mistaken, this is more than a school social event." He subvocalized. That was the third person that wanted to talk to him. Altering the verse had its wonders but also complications. It seemed his rise was being noted.
"Your opening of your father's companies has affected their perception of you. There is a high probability of this being a meet and greet of companies with promising minds."
'Midtown High was sponsored by numerous companies and organizations, with York Industries being chief.'
"The principal and The S.H.I.E.L.D agent are handling issues, too. Midtown High has four missing students."
"Missing?" He subvocalized. "Compile data on the missing students, please."
"Permission to breach the government and school systems?" Alfred asked.
"Granted," Cole responded.
"Watch it, kid." Cole had been shoved, or attempts to push him had been initiated. He stood there regarding the man. His hand was still on his shoulder, his pathetic grip barely discernible.
"It seems your estranged family thinks you're in possession of tech and advancement that was left off the books," Alfred added.
He rolled his shoulder and moved on, much to the chagrin of York exec. He would ruin that man. His face and profile were already being compiled in the background. Recalling the mission he had gotten, he hoped they outright attacked him.
"Are the cyber attacks still happening." He asked, chuckling at their attempts.
"Over a hundred attacks have been tracked. It's impossible to breach your systems, especially with your hidden ace." Alfred replied, the ace being the system safeguards.
"How many were from Hammer?" He queried, eyeing the executive members across the room, speaking with Parker and Norman.
"Six. The majority are from York agents and S.H.I.E.L.D."
'What belongs to me belongs to me.' He thought.
He took a sip of the punch, wincing at the sweetness.
The party/meeting went on. Peter hadn't approached him, but when his back was turned, the spider's eyes were on him. He viewed everything through the H.U.D.
Kaecillus: Leader, the brothers are in place.
Jeremy bristled at the message, and if his attainments were lesser, he would have exploded here and now.
The Carmichael abuse had been lengthy, and nothing was done about it when he went to the police. Knowing what he knows now, he understood it was all orchestrated by his family.
Jeremy had shown similar proclivities and fondness to what made his father stand out. It was a possibility that Jeremy could have taken York Industries to grandeur heights.
Jeremy: Send the message.
Be at ease, man. Those losers don't deserve your attention. Don't go after the dog but the person holding the leash.
Jeremy: Don't touch Sandy. She's mind.
Sandy Carmicheal was a cleaning lady at the York Towers, and for reasons unknown to him, she had not only let in her parent's killers but also conspired against and led to Jeremy's death that night in the alley.
"Have you heard about Bethany?" He didn't know why, but he had paused and tuned into the conversation near his spot against the wall.
There was a serial killer targeting students, and from what he could determine at the moment, it was a supernatural killer, mutant, alien, or magical in nature.
Attributes
Intelligence: +Moderate Tier 9->10
Strength: +Exceptional Tier 1->2
Speed: Moderate Tier 8
Durability: +Exceptional Tier 1->3
Energy Projection: +Moderate Tier 10
Fighting Skills: +Advanced Tier 8
Gear-Inventory
Red Hood Symbiosis Costume
Atrocious Lantern Ring
Jokers Crowbar
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
Penguin Umbrella
Super-bike
Black Hawk
Blue Beetle Bug
Tumbler Batmobile
Star Trek Commbadge
Abilities
X-Gene: Host mutant factor has awakened.
Thermokinesis, Fear Inducement.
[Unexposed]Terrigenesis
Unique physiology: The Host's mutant abilities, alongside your latent inhuman nature and the new ghost-like powers and abilities, have caused the Host to develop a unique physiology.
[+1] Holder of the Hero-Villain System.
[+10] Criminology: Deception. Stealth. Infiltration. Demolition. Enhanced Investigation.
[+7] Occultism: The Host knows various mystical concepts due to his training with the All-Caste. Additionally, the Host has formal training as a Catholic priest.
[+4] Superhuman Senses: The Host has supernatural senses, allowing them to see, hear, smell, taste, and feel better than their average species member.
[+12] Skilled marksman, assassin, and expert tactician, Gadgetry
[+6] Expert martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant. Highly trained in Dim Mak.
[+9] Acute understanding and utilization of high-tech equipment, Chemistry, Bioengineering, and advanced weaponry.
[+8] Business Management: ATC, Wayne Enterprises, Lexcorp, Iceberg Lounge.
[+4] Computer Operations: Computer Hacking.
[+10] Superhuman strength, speed, and durability due to exposure to the Lazarus Pit and your mutant and latent inhuman metamorphosis. Chi reinforcement.
Astral Projection Portal: By manipulating Ectoplasm energies, The Host can project his consciousness onto the astral plane, allowing him to manifest and communicate without being physically present and create portals. He can only use the astral plane to port to places the Host has marked spiritually.
[Limited] Ectokinesis: The user can create, shape, and manipulate energy unique to spirits/ghosts.
[+4] Thermokinesis: The ability to manipulate and control the motion of molecules, slowing them down or speeding them up, thus changing temperature in the surrounding area with the power of the Host mind. As an ability on a broader spectrum than simply being pyrokinesis or cryokinesis. By its nature, this Mutant ability can be affected and altered by other attributes and abilities. This is considered a mutant ability.
[+2] Pyrokinesis: Create and control fire, manipulate heat in your immediate vicinity with your mind.
[+2] Cryokinesis: The ability to control and manipulate frost, ice, snow, and cold temperatures in general
[Limited] Transformation: Originally, when Daniel and Kurt's ghost merge, Daniel's body becomes covered in ectoplasm that gives him various superhuman abilities; because of the unique nature of the Host, this transformation involves all personas, significantly increasing Haunt's parameters.
Red Hood Armor Symbiosis: Joining of your ectoplasm|Bio-Electricity with your armor. Amplifies Host parameters to an undefined amount.
Red Hood Cowl: Heightened Mental Resistance.
[0] Claws: Haunt has razor-sharp claws on each finger that can easily decapitate enemies.
[Limited] Metamorphosis: You can manipulate your ectoplasm to create tentacles, cobwebs, spikes, blades, and other appendages.
Adhesions: Haunt can stick on walls.
[+7] Inhuman Optimal Healing Factor: Granted by the system and augmented by Chi and Ectoplasmic energies, you can heal from extreme mental or bodily trauma in minutes.
Red Lantern Mantle: The first Lantern has been chosen; the Host now bears the responsibility of holding the Mantle of the Red Lantern Corps.
The First Ring-Atrocious: You wield the first Red Lantern Ring ever created. The boundless rage of Atrocious fuels your powers. Furthermore, unlike the more scientific Green Lantern Ring, the Red Lantern Ring uses vast amounts of 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 user's skill, knowledge, and imagination.
[+1] Rage Suppression: Said to be a rarity amongst Red lanterns, holders of this power need not the baptism of the blood ocean. You can control all the Red Lantern ring's degrees of intensity; lanterns under you have limited access to your passive suppression.
[+6] Chi Manipulation: Host's mastery of martial arts and hidden innate parameters have unlocked one of the most sought-after abilities in the universe. You can wield and manipulate the natural forces of life and control your steadily growing Bio-electrical energy.
[Augmentation] The Host Chi can enhance physical and supernatural parameters and significantly boost healing and recovery time.
[+6] Fear Inducement: Your presence has shown itself as a fragment of fear. The physical manifestation of your presence takes the form of an incorporeal bat-like thing. The target of your inducement perception may be altered, causing them to have waking nightmarish dreams pulling taut on their deepest fears. Your presence can now affect the waking and spiritual domain, causing the Host to become ominous, dark, foreboding, or even monstrous. This is considered a mutant ability.