2/9

2/9 Empath can make someone feel what he wants them to feel. Manuel de la Rocha treats that ability as permission. His mutant power manipulates emotions, letting him turn resistance into affection or confidence into fear. Against another teenager, that can be more invasive than any punch. Someone might know perfectly well that Manuel is cruel and still find their own feelings working against them. His early treatment of Jetstream makes the problem painfully clear. When his teammate confronts him, Empath changes Jetstream's emotions rather than taking responsibility. Emma has to intervene. Sharing a uniform offers no protection from him. The name suggests understanding other people. Manuel is interested in controlling them. That makes him useful to the Hellfire Club and difficult to trust in a team that depends on cooperation. The fight with Cannonball and Magma shows why Jetstream is so angry. Manuel interferes with Amara's feelings, turning her against Sam. Her attacks endanger Jetstream as well, and Cannonball goes after his falling opponent to save him. Empath continues enjoying the situation while another Hellion is caught in the danger he has created. There is a nasty contrast there. The enemy recognizes Jetstream as another kid whose life matters. His own teammate is more interested in manipulating the fight. Manuel's power is useful for taking prisoners or disrupting opponents, but he gives the people beside him good reason to wonder whether they will be his next amusement. He also gives the Hellions an internal problem they cannot simply train away. Every disagreement with Empath comes with the possibility that the next feeling they have will be one he put there.