Chapter 115: Snakeroot
Arrayed around him were his board, each one arguing against or for actions that should or shouldn't be taken.
He hadn't spoken, his avatar still bus eyes and ears open as he took in the information.
Armacham was a disturbed Ant hive its members were still running about the towers securing what was important, which was simple task with their gate tech, an inevitable was headed there way soon, warrants were already being requested and the boars wasn't under any illusion that half of them wouldn't be sign.
Was he ready? Cole had no idea but even bad exposure was still exposure, he had directed release of more lesser technology to shift the public opinion in his favor and to emphasized his local recruitment, crime rate drop in the area and his steady investment in the historic Harlem community.
Give them a sense that they belong and the local government will do his legal work for him.
His heads-up display deconstructed before him, its passing noticed only to those with the specialty bio-contacts.
He hadn't expected an opportunity would arise that would allow him to drop in when Skye would be inadvertently linked with SHIELD.
A thin smile surfaced on his face as he thought about the mole he had implanted into their organization.
There were many constants in the Marvel Universe SHIELD being a dominant driving force was one, regardless of who or what led them.
Having swapped out with Astrid on who drove, Cole sat in the back seat, his mind refocused on present events.
"We here, boss." Hammerhead's monotone voice called to him, drawing him from mind entrapment.
The trio arrived just outside Hell's Kitchen, the vehicle tucked away, not to draw suspicious eyes.
Astrid looked through the mirror at him, a wanting look sparking in her light brown eyes.
"Remember, do not sell your life short; don't worry about me. If it comes to your safety or the mission retreat," he pointed to the darkening sky, "each of you has a Boa that will follow you, assist, and, if needed, partner with you to take down targets."
Astrid smiled; Cole enhanced her vision, noting the electric spark the contacts gave off, brightening her eyes.
"Nothing has changed in a decade," Astrid commented.
Her disgust was palpable as she stepped over a questionable-looking puddle of water, her eyes squinting at the homelessness present.
Hammerhead loomed over the two as he walked over.
The former mobster side-eyed Astrid but changed course when a knock sounded from the dark alley.
A woman huddled over, obviously crippled in some fashion and covered in rags, wobbled out. Astrid nose contorted in disgust.
Cole glanced at her but didn't notice anything suspicious. His hand spread out, and a three-dimensional hardlight of hell kitchen appeared.
The two drew closer, Astrid breath tickling his neck, a teasing smile on her face; he looked into her eyes, and a red dot forestalled her hand creeping around his waist. Hammerhead loomed, and the man had grown like most who had taken the Super-Soldier-Serum.
Cole's hand spread out, and a three-dimensional hardlight representing hell kitchen came to life.
The two drew closer, Astrid breath tickling his neck, a teasing smile on her face; he looked into her eyes, and a red dot forestalled her hand creeping around his waist.
He pointed to locations that were points of Interest. Astrid had declined to go alone, wanting to follow him, but the mobster only smiled and looked where he needed to go.
Before he left, Cole helped him work his heads-up display into his vision, which was like a mini-map.
He had wondered if splitting up was ideal, but it wasn't like they were far away; the area wasn't significant. As a leader, he had to have faith in his chosen ones.
They looked out of place, strolling down the block, eyes scanning the crowds; Cole would stop and unleash another boa.
"Why do bad guys always use abandoned buildings? If it were me and my organization, I'd use a nice mansion somewhere in an unassuming neighborhood."
Cole responded. "Simple. Authorities don't patrol abandoned buildings; if not criminals, homeless people will move in. We often had to clear out the homeless before setting up shop.
Cole nodded, his eyes scanning around the vacant building.
Hammerhead turned toward a direction; he looked at each of them, nodded, and lumbered off.
The Hell's Kitchen area includes the northern part of Hudson Yards to the south but excludes the Columbus Circle transition area to the north.
So close to his purchase, he thought to himself, amused. The Nautilus was near, and he could bombard the area with a surprise attack; there wasn't anything anyone could do to stop him.
Cole chuckled and stared ahead, his eyes examining the infamous neighborhood, a section cut out of Manhattan and dubbed Hell Kitchen.
A rat, the size of the big man's head, scampered out, looked at us, and turned back around.
"Just me and you now, Boss." Astrid hooked her arm with his as they walked through the city.
*****
Elektra under the guise of homeless crippled walked right past the trio.
'That has to be him.' Elektra thought as she swaddled away, hunched over and reeking of filth like many that made the alley home.
The group let them go unmolested; she sneered at their carelessness. If it was her, she would have interrogated everyone outside a potential hideout and unceremoniously killed them.
After crossing the busy street, she removed her disguise and smiled as if the trap had been set.
"Red Hood in attendance; he's under a new disguise. I'm headed to Armacham Technology Corporation to retrieve Jeremy York."
The line was silent for three minutes before the grumbling Damon Dran answered.
"As we agreed, Molot Boga will meet you there. He will be the distraction for you when you get inside. There is also a complication to the plan."
Elektra came to a halt after hearing that.
"What do you mean, Dran."
"Snaekroot has issued a casus belli. They want Red Hood or at the least a shot at him."
She let her thoughts flow on the subject but didn't see any issue. Snakeroot would only increase the already high odds of defeating him. It hummed to life as she sped into traffic, and she had a sinister smile.
*****
They had ended up checking seven locations when a howl emanated from outside.
He pressed his hand on the arrowhead-shaped badge.
"Hammerhead, have you found anything?"
He had gotten a response quicker than expected, showing that they were indeed suspected to come.
"Lobos."
He turned toward Astrid, and she pouted and sauntered toward him, her hand tracing across his chest.
"This ability to be others, I can get on board with that. I've been reading things, and you reward your standouts?"
His eyes squinted at her.
She laughed, walking past him toward the dock doors.
"I'm already yours in spirit, and this amazing body you made for me might as well be yours, too."
He sighed, but even his multi-faceted mind hadn't had time to respond, but pressing matters encircled him.
"Astrid in rout-."
Cole looked left and right as the heat signatures converged into the room surrounding the trio.
"So you're him. You don't seem like much." said a voice in the shadows.
Gorgon, and El Uno took that opportunity to appear, stepping out so he could see them. Gorgon stood imperiously, arms folded. The man's arrogance practically exuded off of him in waves.
Cole smiled as he felt the ring on his finger warm. He drew In a deep breath, the anger in the room swirling like a mass of flies. "I take it you're Red Hood," Gorgon stated.
Cole smiled, summoned a smoke, and snapped his hands to light it. The white gloves on his hands went unnoticed as everyone focused on the appearance of the cigarette.
Feet edged closer, his display unnerving them all.
"How foolish of you two to appear before me again."
He averted his eyes and scanned over the ninjas masked in the shadows.
"Snakeroot, again? The last bunch didn't amount to much. I wonder what you lot can do."
"Silence." A ninja stepped from the shadowed group, emerging under the light.
"I'm Nagami, noble of Snakeroot."
He unstrapped his blade and held it out to me. "For the insult to my clan and the dishonor you have brought upon Snakeroot, I demand a duel to the death."
"He's mine." El Uno declared.
The Snakeroot ninja regarded the big man and nodded.
"You, too, have been aggrieved. You may attempt to end him."
Cole laughed out loud at the idiocy of the surrounding enemies.
He looked past them and said, "El Uno is useless to me, but how about you, Gorgon? Come to the winning team because if you stand over there, I promise you only one outcome."
Gorgon stared at him, his face schooled, but a smile grew on Cole's face.
'He didn't like that.' He thought as the anger simmered inside of him.
"Enough, Nagami. You and your clan have altered the plan. We accept your intervention as long as the mission is complete. El Uno, go, don't mess up again."
Cole sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice. You would be a warm-up for me, at least."
"I'm going to break you." roared the brute pushing away.