CHAPTER 105: THE PURPLE VISITOR

The WHIH World News theme music played across millions of screens. The camera zoomed in on a poised anchorwoman seated behind a glass desk, her calm smile not quite hiding the undercurrent of excitement in her tone.

"Good evening, New York—and good evening to all our viewers across the nation and around the world," she began with her voice smooth and steady. "I’m Karen Page, and this is WHIH World News. It’s Monday night here in the city that never sleeps, and we have a lot to cover for you tonight. From politics in Washington to technology in Silicon Valley, we’ll get to it all—but first, the story everyone’s been talking about."

She adjusted the papers in front of her with a practiced grace. "It has been four days since the now-infamous Hammer Expo—an event that escalated from a product showcase into what could have been a national tragedy."

Behind her, the screen shifted to live footage of that chaotic night—War Machine and the robots turned their weapons on Iron Man, unleashing a storm of fire on Iron Man who then took to the skies, trailed by War Machine and several Robots. Remaining Hammer robots gone rogue, their weapons trained on civilians, panic filling the stadium. Then, a familiar figure strode into view.

"Robots created by Hammer Industries turned on the people they were meant to protect," Karen narrated, her voice firm but steady. "But in the midst of chaos, one man once again stood between disaster and humanity: Dr. Ethan Carter, also known to the world now as Aeon."

The footage slowed—Ethan walking across the stage, his coat fluttering behind him, shards of glass frozen midair around terrified civilians. He turned back to the camera, his voice echoing through the speakers:

"Because I’m here."

The image cut to the moment he crushed Hammer’s robots into compact spheres and drove them into the earth, only for mighty trees to bloom from the broken ground. The crowd’s stunned silence had shifted to awe that night, and now the world was seeing it again in high definition.

Karen leaned slightly forward. "What could have ended in bloodshed was transformed into a message of hope. Dr. Carter didn’t just neutralize the threat—he symbolized his company’s pledge to a greener world by turning the machines of destruction into living trees."

The screen transitioned again, showing another striking figure standing at his side. A woman clad in crimson and blue with a sword gleaming in hand.

"Ethan Carter wasn’t alone," Karen continued. "Many viewers recognized her at once. For those still wondering—her name is Diana Prince. Not a comic book character brought to life based on her outfit, but very real. Diana Prince, major shareholder of Aeon Biotech—and, as we’ve since confirmed, a relative of Dr. Carter. Rumors have circulated about her since her sudden appearance in Aeon Biotech and her background, but that night she proved her place in history by fighting alongside Iron Man and War Machine."

The feed cut again, showing Tony Stark, War Machine, and Diana battling side by side.

Karen nodded at the screen as if speaking directly to the viewers at home. "What was supposed to be a massacre became something else entirely. When the destroyed robots were seconds from detonating, Dr. Carter intervened once more. Rather than allowing their explosions to destroy the city, he lifted them into the sky... and turned devastation into beauty."

The footage rolled again, this time in breathtaking slow motion. Broken robot shells levitated high above and turned into glowing orbs, glowing brighter and brighter—then bursting apart in brilliant fireworks that painted the night sky in radiant light.

Gasps could be heard from the recording of the audience. Some cried. Some cheered. All were united in awe.

Karen’s voice softened, reverent now. "In the end, not a single person was harmed. Every damaged building, every broken road, was restored in moments. A disaster became a memory of beauty, a story people will tell for generations."

The image changed once more—crowds of people proudly rolling up their sleeves, a glowing A freshly inked on their skin.

"Ethan Carter, founder of Aeon Biotech and the mind behind innovations like the Immune+ Protocol and regenerative fertilizers, is being called by many the one true hero of our time. Across the world, a new trend has emerged: citizens tattooing the Aeon logo as a mark of hope and inspiration."

On-screen, images of people tattooing the stylized "A" logo onto their skin appeared. Arms, wrists, even across chests. Smiles on their faces with pride.

"It has become a trend," she continued. "A mark of belief, of gratitude, of inspiration. This man, who has saved lives time and again—from the rampages of Hulk and Abomination, to the near-world domination attempt of Sinister—has once more proven that he stands for humanity, not above it."

Karen hesitated for a beat, her expression shifting into something more serious. "But while many hail him as a savior, questions remain. His powers... are extraordinary. Terrifying, some might say. At the first press conference in the past, when Ms. Jean Grey and Ms. Anna Marie revealed Dr. Carter’s abilities, they did not disclose anything of this magnitude. The powers we saw at the Expo—restoration, somthing like energy manipulation, what some call miracles—are far beyond what was originally admitted."

She leaned forward, her tone careful and measured. "But perhaps they had a reason for their silence. Fear drives humanity to terrible actions—history has shown us that time and again. Dr. Carter does not owe us a catalog of every power he possesses. After all, does our nation disclose the full extent of its nuclear arsenal? Secrets can protect just as much as they can endanger."

The anchorwoman straightened, her final words carrying weight. "What matters most is not what he can do, but what he chooses to do. Time and again, Dr. Ethan Carter has chosen to save lives. Chosen to heal, not destroy. Perhaps it is time for us to trust in that choice. For myself, and for the lives spared at the Expo—we owe him a thank you."

She smiled faintly at the camera. "This is Karen Page, WHIH News. Stay safe."

The screen cut to black.

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But not every channel sang praise.

"Ladies and gentlemen of New York! Have you seen what just happened? Because I have. And I’m telling you—this Ethan Carter fellow is dangerous. Do you hear me? Dangerous!"

Inside the cluttered newsroom of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson leaned so far over his desk his mustache practically brushed the microphone. His voice bellowed through televisions across New York like cannon fire.

On-screen, footage rolled of people proudly etching the stylized ’A’ logo into their skin—on forearms, wrists, even boldly across their chests. Each face carried the same expression: pride, as if the mark wasn’t just ink, but a declaration of loyalty.

"Are you people blind?!" he roared, slamming a fist on his desk. Papers flew everywhere. "You’re all lining up to worship this man like he’s the second coming! Have you seen what he can do? One man with that kind of power—unimaginable power!—and you’re getting tattoos of his company logo?!"

The screen behind him filled with clips: Ethan turning robots into trees and raising glowing orbs into the sky.

Jameson jabbed a finger at the footage like it had insulted him personally.

"One man—one man—with that much power? It’s insane! He doesn’t answer to the people, doesn’t answer to the government, doesn’t answer to me! He waves his hands and suddenly he’s turning robots into fireworks—what’s next, turning you into a balloon animal if he doesn’t like your haircut?"

The crowd behind the camera laughed nervously. Jameson didn’t. He slammed his fist on the desk.

He stabbed a finger at the camera, eyes wild. "Wake up, New York! Today it’s fireworks and magic tricks, tomorrow he decides he doesn’t like the color of your car and turns it into a tree! Or worse—"

He grabbed a newspaper clipping of Diana mid-battle, shaking it at the camera. "And don’t get me started on her! A walking comic book knockoff! Wonder Woman? What’s next, Odin crashing a party in Times Square? Zeus holding a press conference at the White House? Are we supposed to believe every bedtime story now just because Aeon snaps his fingers? You’re being manipulated!"

Jameson leaned closer, voice dropping into a growl. "Jean Grey and Anna Marie never told the full truth about his powers. And now? Now he’s pulling rabbits out of hats—big cosmic rabbits! You think that’s trust? You think that’s safety?"

He exhaled sharply through his nose, muttering before snapping back up again. "Don’t get me wrong—the Immune+ Protocol is a good thing. Sure. But that’s how the devil works, people! He gives you candy before he takes your soul!"

"But you don’t take candy from the devil just because it tastes sweet, people! Remember that!"

The clip ended with Jameson red-faced, jabbing his finger so hard at the camera it nearly went through the lens.

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Across the world, debates raged online. Supporters and skeptics clashed in forums, videos, and livestreams. Some hailed Ethan Carter as a messiah of science and compassion. Others called him a ticking time bomb.

But whether they adored him or feared him, one thing was clear—no one could ignore him.

And as the world argued over Ethan Carter—some with awe, some with suspicion—his legend only grew larger, beyond the reach of either praise or criticism.

The authorities continued to search for Ivan Vanko who went missing after the incident. Police bulletins, international warrants, whispered theories—none came close to the truth. For in reality, Vanko had not escaped. He had been erased. Ethan had ended him swiftly, without leaving so much as a trace for anyone to find.

To the world, Vanko was a fugitive. To Ethan, he was a problem already solved. If pressed, Ethan had a simple alibi—he had been too occupied disarming "the fireworks," or rather, the bombs Vanko had planted, saving countless lives. No one would question a hero who had turned death into beauty.

After the chaos, Ethan did meet Tony Stark in private. Their conversation was sharp, layered with tension and curiosity. Ethan offered answers to some questions, left others to dangle like riddles.

"If you’ve got time," he had told Stark with a sly smile, "you’ll find the rest yourself."

Tony had glared, but Ethan knew the man loved puzzles too much to resist.

Meanwhile, the press and news channels clamored for interviews, desperate to dig into the mind of the man who had turned disaster into fireworks.

But Ethan Carter, lazy when he chose to be, and intelligent enough to play the long game, had no intention of being paraded like a showman. As always, he left the spotlight to the women at his side—Diana, Jean and Anna... they bore the weight of the public while Ethan worked quietly in the background.

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The next day unfolded differently.

Ethan was in the labs, walking beside Susan Storm. Together, they had just concluded work on one of the most delicate projects in mutant history: a serum that allowed mutants with visible physical mutations to adopt a fully human appearance—while retaining their powers.

"It will change lives," Susan said with quiet conviction as they strolled toward the Aeon canteen for a much-needed break. "There are mutants out there who only want to walk through a crowd without being stared at. This gives them that chance."

Ethan’s gaze softened, but his words were pragmatic. "It’s not that simple, Sue. Anything involving mutants is complicated. Every advancement risks being twisted by politics, fear, or worse. We’ll proceed cautiously."

Susan sighed, then nodded. "Then perhaps... it’s wiser to wait. Launch it after some of your other projects at a good time."

"That’s the plan," Ethan said with a faint smile. "First, we roll out the regeneration cradle. Helen Cho’s research is almost complete, and I promised her Aeon Biotech would carry it to the world. Once that’s out, we’ll move to the serum."

He had recruited Helen Cho right after her graduation and personally funded her research. Now, her project was in its final stages, nearing completion.

Ethan planned to unveil it alongside his own major initiative, timing both launches before his wedding. His goal was simple—tie up every loose end, ensure everything was in order, and then disappear on his honeymoon with his wives without a single worry left behind.

Susan arched a brow. "Before the wedding, I assume?"

Ethan smirked. "Before the honeymoon, definitely. I like tying up loose ends before I disappear with my wives for a while."

They both chuckled as they reached the canteen doors.

But before they could step inside, Chloe intercepted them. Her expression was serious. "Sir, you have an important visitor."

From behind her emerged a man unlike the rest. His skin carried a faint, unnatural lavender tint, his smile wide, predatory. At his sides walked Yuriko and several mutants whose eyes burned with loyalty—or perhaps, compulsion.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed instantly.

The man stopped just a few feet away, tilting his head with practiced arrogance. "Dr. Carter," he purred. "At last, we meet. I look forward to you working... under me."

Then his gaze slid past Ethan, locking onto Susan. His smile widened grotesquely, his tongue wetting his lips. "And here she is. The Invisible Woman herself. What a... delightful surprise."

Ethan’s expression hardened. In a blur, his hand shot out and clamped around the stranger’s throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.

Killgrave—because that was his name—choked, eyes bulging as Ethan’s grip crushed the air from him. "S–stop him!" Killgrave croaked, voice breaking. The command was meant for the mutants flanking him.

But they stood frozen, their wills untouched. Ethan’s voice was cold, his eyes colder still. "You thought your tricks would work on me?"

Killgrave struggled, disbelief etched across his face. He had controlled generals, politicians, even mutants with iron wills. Yet before Ethan Carter, his influence was nothing.

It was at that moment Killgrave know, he fucked up.

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Meanwhile, elsewhere in New York...

Tony Stark sat across from Nick Fury in a dim, secure briefing room. A thick file rested on the table between them—the report Natasha had filed, detailing his performance and potential for something called "The Avengers Initiative."

Stark had skimmed it once, but now, under Fury’s watchful eye, he read carefully.

His brow furrowed. "So let me get this straight. Iron Man—recommended." He flipped the page. "...Tony Stark—not recommended."

He glanced up, incredulous. "You recommended me but... not me? How the hell does that make sense?"

Fury leaned back, unimpressed. "After much debate, we decided your... talents were best suited as a consultant. Not as a soldier."

Tony snapped the folder shut, pushing back his chair and stood up before brushing off his suit jacket.

He shook Fury’s hand briskly with a smile, "Then here’s my recommendation—you can’t afford me." turned on his heel, and strode toward the exit.

He turned toward the door and hand already on the handle. But something made him pause. He turned back, "One question before I go. Why is the Avengers logo the same as Aeon Biotech’s?"

The silence that followed was heavy enough to choke on.

....

Author’s Note:

How’s the Chapter, guys?

Yes, Ethan went ahead and used the Avengers logo as his company emblem.

Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts—how do you think Ethan should deal with Kilgrave?