Persona: Hero x Villain System

Chapter 31: The Purple Man

He hurried toward the elevator as the crowd began screaming, shouting, and turning up to the loud music.

He stepped to the side that led to the lone elevator. A bouncer was unconscious against the wall; he checked the pulse of the security. 

He was alive but out cold. Luke hadn’t wasted time incapacitating the man. He slipped the man's piece from the holster and tucked the weapon in his waistband.

“Is he like us?” Firestar asked, speaking through the smart glasses. The glasses had two functions: connected to the bat computer and could transform into a domino mask on command. 

“No, he’s not. His mutation is the result of a serum.” Cole explained. 

“You’re going to have to explain many things, but I got something interesting.” He nodded, knowing she couldn’t see him. An academy photo appeared on his H.U.D.

He read the information she had unearthed. Jessica Jones, a police officer, and she was undercover. In this universe, she had been fulfilling Misty role on the local force. Did she have her powers? He had so many questions, but he hadn’t the time to delve deeply. 

Firestar also uncovered something else alarming: a serial killer had been targeting local students, and three victims were already from his higher school. Why wasn’t this known?

"Hey, you." A man in a black suit shouted while rushing toward Cole, interrupting him. Cole stopped and turned while sending a high kick to the man's temple, surprising the guard with unnatural speed. 

The bouncer slumped toward the ground, and Cole helped himself to the man's illegal gains. He placed the brass knuckles on and made his way up the stairs.

Cole rushed up the red velveted steps, hurriedly trying to catch up with Luke. He was curious as to why the man wasn’t as active. Bodies were thrown about as he ascended. He could hear the sound of fighting on the third floor. Soon, gunshots started, and the music became louder, no doubt an attempt to drown the small arms fire.

He ducked as the man flew over his head. Luke locked eyes with him. Cole raised his hands before pointing behind Luke to the man rushing toward him with a chair above his head.

Luke was a force of nature as he moved forward. Bullets, knives, and bats broked against the invulnerable man. 

He observed him and wondered if he could disable him at his base. Luke's power set wasn't insurmountable, but his power made him incredibly strong and nearly invulnerable. Let's not even think about the second exposure to the chemicals version of Luke. That version duked it out with The Thing of The Fantastic Four and had a solid enough jab to send base Hulk careening.

Staying a reasonable distance from the future Defender, Cole dispatched the guards that remained conscious; excitedly, he received rewards for each individual he sent to Dreamland. 

It was in the midst of the battle that he had an epiphany. He wasn't mad, and there wasn't unquenchable anger—no deepening rage-fueled insanity. 

Each of his blows could kill, but he was subconsciously holding himself back from outright killing. There weren't qualms about him taking lives. He wasn't naive; death was warranted, and he would be a death dealer to many.

Bang. 

A bullet slammed into his chest; Cole staggered back. The man fired three more times, and Cole took them center mast, but he didn't rock as he planted his feet. The man with shades stood before him, arms extended, barrel bearing down at him.

"Fuck this, shit." Shades said as he tried to run. Cole grabbed a stunner rod from one of the unconscious bouncers and flung it toward the man, catching him in the back of his knees. 

He dashed forward and kicked the man across the face as he turned to stare at him. His glass crumbled as the kick landed. Cole wiped his McQueens off on the man's sports Jacket. Shades were an integral part of Stoke's gang.

System message: Prominent Hitman incapacitated. Rewards: +Heroic alignment. $10,000

"Bulletproof, or is that some bulletproof material?" Luke asked in curiosity as he tossed security personnel over the railing.

"Enhanced Fiber," he lied. As ignoring the system message. "What's your problem with the guy you tossed over the rail? You have been careful not to harm anyone seriously."

Luke didn't answer as more security personnel roared and ran toward them.

"I can help," Cole said as he ripped a pistol from one of the man's hands and turned it into a club as he pistol-whipped the three nearest men. Cole moved to the side and kicked out, breaking another man's leg as he flowed into battle. He ignored the gunshots around him, and low-caliber artillery wouldn't pierce his skin at this stage of his development.

Luke must be after Mabel. He thought. The man must have become fed up with the provocation of the Stokes Crime Syndicate.

Cole grappled with two security personnel. He ripped one man off and threw him across the room; the second man's eyes enlarged, but he was too slow, and Cole backhanded him away. Cursing under his breath as Luke left the men to him.

He didn't expect Luke to show up. This was supposed to be a subtle mission. He was to slip in, gain some crucial information, and send the said information to authorities. Complete the quest and enjoy his new rewards. Now, he was once again in a fistfight.

Cole slammed the last man against the wall near the elevator leading to the fourth floor. He placed the man's hand on the pad until it turned green. He had to wait for a second, but it pinged open. 

Once he inspected the smashed controls, he cursed Luke. He looked up, removed a grappling hook, and opened the maintenance hatch.

He pried the elevator doors open. It was eerily quiet. He sighed inwardly. Should he retreat? He needed more evidence. There wasn't a timeline to complete the mission, and Red Hood couldn't appear here without him scrubbing the cameras, but that wasn't ideal; he was sure The Broker would get his hands on the feed to try and discern who he was. 

So, Jason Todd had to continue the mission. He slunk toward the heavily adorned double doors, now smashed inwardly, and planted himself to listen to the conversation.

"Where is she?" Cole heard Luke roar inside the office. He peeked. Mabel was behind the desk, and a man in a purple suit stood beside her.

'Oh shit. Zebadiah Killgrave, better known as The Purple Man.’ 

The Purple Man's body produces chemical pheromones, which, when inhaled or absorbed through the skin, allow Kilgrave to control others' actions as long as he is physically present. These abilities can overwhelm most, but sufficiently strong-willed people

Mabel stared at Luke, her hands crossed over each other. He's here to rescue Jessica Jones; where is Daredevil? And Iron Fist, something is off here. Luke can't resist The Purple man

Cole felt a cold iron pressed against the back of his head and a hand clasping something metallic on his right hand. 

He slowly turned and was gobsmacked by someone who managed to sneak up on him. He checked his H.U.D., and it had been taken offline. He mentally disconnected from the local network, not wanting to be hacked. His connection being taken down was S.H.I.E.L.D. doing. 

Misty Knight glared at him sternly as she pressed the pistol harder into the back of his head.

"I don't know who you are, but you're under arrest," she said quietly as she listened to the conversation.

Cole would rectify his glaring mishap later. He needed better technology. First, he must ensure he didn't showcase anything that would link him to The Hood.

"I can help." He muttered, annoyed that the lady got the drop on him, but he couldn't hate the woman for being skillful.

She rummaged into his pocket, not caring about etiquette, and removed his wallet. She flipped it open and scanned it before tucking it into her pocket.

"Seriously, you're going to rob me." He joked. He was aware that his Todd transformation had just been compromised. Misty dug the gun into him; she wasn't in a joking mood.

"You're able to dispatch over twenty-plus men easily, and you're wearing some form of Kevlar clothing." She said, relieving him of his ill-gotten gains.

He sighed internally. He didn't want to make an enemy of the lady.

"So, Jason Todd, why are you galavanting around Harlem Paradise?" Asked Misty Stone.

Cole heard Mabel laugh loudly, and The Purplemen said something to Luke, and the men's heightened voice meant he was being affected.

"Nice to meet you, Special Agent Misty Knight." He said.

She tensed and pressed him further into the wall, the pistol pushing even harder against his skull.

"Who are you? Last chance?" She whispered into his ear menacingly.

Her breath smelt like chocolate mint, and her toned, lithe body pressed against his teased at his adolescent hormones. Thankfully, his mind was honed not to get distracted from such things.

"Listen to me," he said, his tone taking on a tone of authority. "That man in the god-awful suit is an enhanced human who can project powerful pheromones that allow him to control others. He's extremely dangerous; you and Luke cannot defeat him; Luke has already been compromised."

Misty was quiet, but he could tell she had her suspicions. "Is that why Jessica has been acting strange? Are you working with him?" She practically growled the last words into his ear.

"How? I just helped Luke make it up here. Be serious, lady!” He argued. She glowered, teeth clenching. 

‘Damn. What's up with her character? She wasn’t like this in the comics.’ He complained inwardly. 

“No. I'm working with a third party.” He lied, slumping his shoulders in mocked defeat. 

“Listen, we need to work together.” He whirled around so fast she stumbled, and the gun in her hands was now his. 

The two stared at each other before he let her go. He turned the gun over, barrel facing him. He raised his cuffed hand in a surrendering gesture. Before the two could continue, a smug voice emanaing inside the office.

"You two might as well come inside, or do I need to make you." Said The Purple Man.