Protect the Camera

Half a second.

A solid diamond-shaped shield rippling with pale blue energy lines suddenly appeared in front of her left arm.

"Whoa..." Jessica instinctively raised her arm. The shield was so light it seemed weightless.

"I spent a fortune on the Vibranium coating, plus Starr Group's latest energy-dispersal force field," Azu explained evenly. "It can withstand the kinetic impact of several hundred tons in an instant without snapping your arm."

"Cross your arms," Wu Yanzu ordered.

Jessica did as told, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Bzzzt—!"

The two shields instantly folded together, forming an enormous defensive barrier that protected her entire body behind it.

"Besides blocking ballistic weapons, when you charge, this thing will let you smash through buildings like a human bulldozer."

Pleased with the effect, Azu pulled an exquisite metal case from his pocket and tossed it to Jessica.

Jessica caught it and opened it.

Inside lay three syringe vials emitting a faint green glow.

"What's this?" Jessica held one up to the light. "The color looks like radioactive waste."

"T-VEX. I prefer to call it Popeye's Spinach Juice."

Azu pointed at the vial in her hand. "This is your insurance."

"I don't need insurance." Jessica snorted. "I can throw a tank into the Hudson River."

Azu shook his head. "You haven't run into real trouble yet, Jessica. This world is far more dangerous than you think!"

He rose to his feet, walked up to Jessica, and lowered his voice. An oppressive presence instantly enveloped her.

"This stuff can multiply your strength dozens of times over for ten minutes. It might even unlock a few new tricks."

"But remember," Azu said, extending one finger to gently tap the vial, "this is your trump card. Don't use it unless you absolutely have to. Afterward, you'll be hungry enough to eat a cow, and weak as a drowned dog."

"Most importantly, if you use more than two in a day, you could die!"

Jessica tucked the case into a hidden compartment in her belt. "Got it. I'm not an idiot."

"Who exactly is this criminal? Why does he warrant such a big operation?"

"Orville Black. Nicknamed Bone Chewer."

Azu tossed her the tablet.

On the screen was a disturbing photograph: a massive monster with sickly gray skin.

"A former underground bare-knuckle fighter. He gained mysterious powers during some unknown ritual. Incredible strength, hardened skin, and an extremely brutal temperament."

"Over the past week, he's struck repeatedly in Brooklyn and Queens. He killed three cops who tried to arrest him, and even ate one of them alive..." Azu paused. "Forget it. You don't need to know what he ate."

"Anyway, the president gave us this job."

"One last thing."

Azu pointed at the man standing in the corner with a camera on his shoulder.

He was a seasoned Vought war correspondent, wearing a helmet and covered in GoPros.

"Dave, say hello."

"Hi, Queen Jones! I'm Dave, your number-one fan!" Dave waved excitedly.

Azu raised one finger and pointed at the camera lens in Dave's hands.

"I don't care who that criminal is, and I don't care how the police scream."

"Jessica, your top priority... is protecting the camera."

"If things get out of control," Azu said, leaning close to her face, his voice low, "...you can let those cops get hurt. You can even get hurt yourself. But if Dave dies or the camera breaks... and the audience can't clearly see your heroic figure..."

"...I'll dock all your bonuses and make you drink nothing but that two-dollar-a-bottle swill for the entire year."

Jessica Jones gritted her teeth in fury. "You really are a complete bastard, Starr."

"Thanks for the compliment." Azu flashed a perfect smile. "Go on, Queen. This is your debut. I'll be watching you on TV."

Bronx, abandoned port warehouse.

Police sirens tore through the cold wind.

More than a dozen police cars and a SWAT armored vehicle had the old warehouse surrounded tight.

"All units, be advised: the target possesses heavy firepower. Queen Jones will lead the assault. The SWAT team will handle the outer perimeter."

The operation commander's voice came through the earpiece.

Jessica let out a slow breath as rainwater dripped from the ends of her hair.

Behind her, the photographer named Dave was panting as he adjusted his camera. The red recording light came on.

"Ready, Queen?" Dave asked quietly. "Remember, turn your face slightly when you fight. The lighting's better from this side."

"Shut up, Dave."

Jessica drove one hard kick into the heavy iron doors.

"Boom—!"

The double doors flew inward like cannonballs, smashing directly into a row of shelves.

"Who the hell is that?!"

"It's that bitch! Queen Jones!"

Inside the factory, more than a dozen thugs reacted at once. What they held were not ordinary guns, but modified Chitauri Energy Rifles, their muzzles glowing a deep blue.

"Damn it."

Jessica instinctively wanted to find cover, but that poor cameraman carrying the equipment was right behind her. If she ducked away, the guy would be turned into Swiss cheese.

"What a pain!"

She spun around, grabbed the terrified Dave, and yanked him behind her.

At the same time, she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Bzzzt—!"

The silver-white bracers instantly unfolded. A V-emblazoned defensive barrier expanded out of thin air, completely shielding them both.

"Fire!!"

"Pew! Pew! Pew!"

High-energy beams poured down like a rainstorm.

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

The energy beams struck the shield, sending ripples across its surface, but failed to pierce it in the slightest.

"Cool..." Dave marveled from behind her. Yet the camera in his hands remained incredibly steady, perfectly capturing Jessica's resolute back and the instant the shield unfolded.

"Got enough footage?" Jessica asked coldly.

"Enough! The close-up was perfect!"

"Then hide properly. I've got work to do!"

Jessica braced behind the shield, drove off the ground, and charged forward!

In an instant, she broke through the dense barrage of fire.

A huge man swung a Chitauri War Staff down from the side.

"Die!!"

Jessica shifted slightly aside, letting the tip of the staff pass her.

Her right hand struck like a snake, lightly catching the man's wrist.

Following his momentum, she gave a backward pull.

"Off you go."

The two-hundred-pound brute spun three and a half times through the air like an out-of-control kite before crashing viciously into a heap of scrap metal.

"Crack." The sound of his spine breaking was crystal clear.

"Whoa!" Dave shoved his camera forward wildly. "Is that kung fu?! That's so awesome!"

"Next!"