"No… this is impossible! My power works on everyone!" Kilgrave completely lost it.
Compound V had already formed a powerful mental resistance within Marcus Lee. With the system upgraded, only the Mind Stone could even begin to shake his will.
Kilgrave's so-called "mind control" was nothing more than the buzzing of a mosquito.
"I command you ah!"
He hadn't finished the sentence before Jessica lunged, kicking his knee and shattering it.
Crack!
"Ahhh!" Kilgrave rolled on the ground, clutching his leg.
"You bastard! Love me stop it!"
"Die! You nearly ruined my life!" Jessica grabbed his collar and punched him square in the face.
Smack!
His nose caved in, blood gushing out.
"I… I command… command…" Kilgrave stammered incoherently, still trying to issue orders.
"So noisy," Marcus frowned. "Jessica, step aside."
She froze, then turned to see the eyes of the Patriot… glowing red.
"You… what are you doing?"
"Me?" He smiled. "Helping you… end all of this, once and for all."
Hiss
Before Jessica could react, two precise crimson beams shot out.
"Hk hk "
Kilgrave's scream cut off abruptly.
He clutched his throat no blood, only two black holes scorched shut by the heat.
He opened his mouth, trying to scream, to beg but no sound came out.
Vocal cords, trachea, peripheral nerves: all vaporized.
"…"
He begged silently.
"Hk… hk…"
Bang.
He gasped, eyes rolling, collapsing to the floor, convulsing in terror but utterly mute.
Silence filled the room.
"You…" Jessica's voice choked. "You… killed him?"
"This power doesn't belong to this world," Marcus replied, a perfect smile back on his face. "No prison could hold him, and I'm not the director of Arkham Asylum."
"But "
"Jessica, you weren't his first victim. If I hadn't arrived, your fists would have become his weapons."
She said nothing. Her actions had already crossed the bounds of law.
And that bastard deserved every bit of it.
Aiden stepped forward, seeing through her instantly.
"Tsk strong body, good strength!"
"You… what do you want?" Jessica remained on guard, leaving the tiger's den only to enter the wolf's.
"Me?" He tapped the eagle emblem on his chest. "I'm the Patriot seen me on TV?"
"I'm forming a team."
He spread his arms as if embracing the New York skyline.
"A real superhero team. Not the lofty Avengers made of gods and billionaires."
"A team that truly protects the world led by me."
He gave Jessica a "sincere" smile.
"You have potential, girl. Just needs a little polishing."
"Me?" Jessica blinked. "I'm just…"
"A drunk? A weirdo?" He interrupted. "No you were born a hero. You just need an agent."
Why should I trust you?
"Because," he said, pointing at Kilgrave's corpse, "I just saved your life and I can make you shine ten thousand times brighter."
"I don't want the spotlight…"
"Exactly, you're just like that." His tone brooked no argument. "You crave acceptance, hate the eyes that call you a monster. You crave… fame."
Jessica fell silent.
The bastard was right.
"Good." He extended a hand. "Warrior, say your name out loud!"
"Jessica," she hesitated. "Jessica Jones."
"Jessica Jones…" He exaggeratedly stroked his chin.
"Too plain. Needs more impact."
He studied her defiant, unbreakable.
"A queen vibe… got it."
He snapped his fingers.
"From now on, my codename for you is: Queen Jones!"
"…What?" Jessica rolled her eyes.
"The dumbest name I've ever heard."
"You'll get used to it." He smiled, handing her a card.
Sleek black, a golden "V" in the center Vought International.
"Vought," he said. "My media company. Call me when you're ready. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Queen. Your stage is bigger."
"Now " He glanced at Kilgrave. "The NYPD and S.H.I.E.L.D. are on their way. Tell them how you fought back and defended yourself. His criminal record is thicker than a phonebook."
"And you?"
"Me?" He grinned. "Real heroes don't steal the credit."
He turned, cape billowing.
"Don't forget Vought is waiting for you, Queen."
Whoosh!
A blue streak shot into the sky and vanished into the night.
Jessica Jones stood amid the rubble, clutching the cold "V" card, staring at the drooling, mute man on the ground.
"…Queen Jones?"
She muttered a curse under her breath.
"Damn arrogant bastard."
Yet, for the first time in ten years, she felt… warmth inside.
High above, Marcus Lee tore through the clouds, exhilarated.
Ding!
The system chimed.
Special Popularity +20,000!
Total: 42,000.
"Special points… leveling them up will be trickier," he mused.
A golden light rippled across the panel.
Congratulations! You've reached the special popularity threshold!
New feature unlocked: Superhero Blind Box!
Description: This is a world driven by appearances and a system guided by appearances.
Spend 30,000 special points for a random draw.
Prizes: Equipment, rare bloodlines, unique abilities, one-time items, character summon cards from the multiverse!
"…Blind box?"
He landed atop the Empire State Building, overlooking the city.
"A thirty-thousand-point gamble I happen to have forty thousand."
A wild grin spread across his face.
"Then let's give it a try."